In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
TRACT
tract
(noun) a system of body parts that together serve some particular purpose
tract, pamphlet
(noun) a brief treatise on a subject of interest; published in the form of a booklet
tract, piece of land, piece of ground, parcel of land, parcel
(noun) an extended area of land
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
tract (plural tracts)
An area or expanse.
A series of connected body organs, as in the digestive tract.
A small booklet such as a pamphlet, often for promotional or informational uses.
A brief treatise or discourse on a subject.
A commentator's view or perspective on a subject.
Continued or protracted duration, length, extent
Part of the proper of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations, used instead of the alleluia during Lenten or pre-Lenten seasons, in a Requiem Mass, and on a few other penitential occasions.
(obsolete) Continuity or extension of anything.
(obsolete) Traits; features; lineaments.
(obsolete) The footprint of a wild animal.
(obsolete) Track; trace.
(obsolete) Treatment; exposition.
Synonyms
• (series of connected body organs): system
Etymology 2
Verb
tract (third-person singular simple present tracts, present participle tracting, simple past and past participle tracted)
(obsolete) To pursue, follow; to track.
(obsolete) To draw out; to protract.
Anagrams
• T-cart
Source: Wiktionary
Tract, n. Etym: [Abbrev.fr. tractate.]
Definition: A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion. The church clergy at that writ the best collection of tracts against popery that ever appeared. Swift. Tracts for the Times. See Tractarian.
Tract, n. Etym: [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 narrowtract 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.)
Definition: 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, v. t.
Definition: To trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact. [Obs.] Spenser. B. Jonson.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
20 June 2024
INSIGNIFICANTLY
(adverb) not to a significant degree or amount; “our budget will only be insignificantly affected by these new cuts”
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