Main Entry: ¹treat

Pronunciation: \ˈtrēt\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English treten, from Anglo-French treter, traiter, traitier, from Latin tractare to drag about, handle, deal with, frequentative of trahere to drag, pull

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 : to discuss terms of accommodation or settlement : negotiate
2 : to deal with a matter especially in writing : discourse —usually used with of <a book treating of conservation>
3 : to pay another's expenses (as for a meal or drink) especially as a compliment or as an expression of regard or friendshiptransitive verb 1 a : to deal with in speech or writing : expound b : to present or represent artistically c : to deal with : handle <food is plentiful and treated with imagination — Cecil Beaton>
2 a : to bear oneself toward : use <treat a horse cruelly> b : to regard and deal with in a specified manner —usually used with as <treat the matter as confidential>
3 a : to provide with free food, drink, or entertainment <they treated us to lunch> b : to provide with enjoyment or gratification
4 : to care for or deal with medically or surgically <treat a disease>
5 : to act upon with some agent especially to improve or alter <treat a metal with acid>

— treat·er noun