treat

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 verb1: to discuss terms of accommodation or settlement : negotiate2: 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 verb1 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 gratification4: 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

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