treatise

noun

trea·​tise ˈtrē-təs How to pronounce treatise (audio)
 also  -təz
1
: a systematic exposition or argument in writing including a methodical discussion of the facts and principles involved and conclusions reached
a treatise on higher education
2
obsolete : account, tale

Examples of treatise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Each chapter of The New Leviathans begins with a quotation from Leviathan, Hobbes’s major treatise on state power, as if to provide the reader with a kernel of truth and an ominous warning about what is to come. Helena Rosenblatt, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Embedded in those responses is a treatise on the capabilities of retreads and movie musicals themselves. Scott Hocker, theweek, 21 Jan. 2024 From Edith Wharton’s treatise on décor to a portrait of 1990s Tokyo, these are the 11 vintage interiors books that designers return to again and again for inspiration. Chris Rhodes Jacob K, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 At the time, the bookseller specialized in law treatises, dictionaries and office supplies. Maraya King, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024 The original meaning of this clause was to secure (equal) protection of the fundamental rights of persons — including the rights to life and personal security — as these had been expounded in Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England and leading American treatises. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023 But the show can’t escape the dark, dystopian fact of its own existence: a treatise invited into exactly what it was meant to critique. Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023 The Chinese monk Lu Yu wrote the first treatise on tea, titled The Classic of Tea, around 760. Charlene Wang De Chen, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2023 The treatise also emphasized the importance of display and order. Anne Wallentine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'treatise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tretis, from Anglo-French tretiz, alteration of tretez, traitet, from Medieval Latin tractatus, from Latin tractare to treat, handle

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of treatise was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near treatise

Cite this Entry

“Treatise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treatise. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

treatise

noun
trea·​tise ˈtrēt-əs How to pronounce treatise (audio)
: a book or article examining a subject carefully and completely
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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