Tract , v. t. To trace out; to
track; also, to draw out; to protact. [Obs.]
Spenser. B. Jonson.
Tract , n. [L. tractus a drawing, train, track, course, tract of land, from trahere tractum,
to draw. Senses 4 and 5 are perhaps due to confusion with track. See Trace,v., and cf.
Tratt.]
1. Something drawn out or extended; expanse. "The deep tract of hell." Milton.
2. A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an area; as, an unexplored tract of sea.
A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrow
tract of earth.
Addison.
3. Traits; features; lineaments. [Obs.]
The discovery of a man's self by the
tracts of his countenance is a great weakness.
Bacon. 4. The footprint of a wild beast. [Obs.] Dryden.
5. Track; trace. [Obs.]
Efface all tract of its traduction.
Sir T. Browne.
But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon,
Leaving no tract behind.
Shak.
6. Treatment; exposition. [Obs.] Shak.
7. Continuity or extension of anything; as, the tract of speech. [Obs.] Older.
8. Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. "Improved by tract of time." Milton.
9. (R. C. Ch.) Verses of Scripture sung at Mass,
instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the Saturday befor Easter; -- so called because sung tractim, or without a
break, by one voice, instead of by
many as in the antiphons.
Syn. -- Region; district; quarter; essay; treatise; dissertation.
Tract (?), n.
[Abbrev.fr. tractate.]
A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion.
The church clergy at that time writ the best
collection of tracts
against popery that ever appeared.
Swift. Tracts for the Times. See Tractarian.
Hear it pronounced