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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 From the treatises of antiquity to the novels of Jane Austen to the economics of Thomas Piketty, writers of all sorts have understood the overlap between unions of soul and contracts of need. Corey Robin, The New Yorker, 29 June 2024 Ruddick’s text is part philosophical treatise, part cultural theory, and part first-person inquiry into the experience of motherhood. Jenny Noyce, JSTOR Daily, 28 June 2024 Paleontologist Charles Doolittle Wolcott first encountered fossils of Pikaia in the Burgess Shale deposits of British Columbia, dating to 508 million years ago, and described them in a 1911 treatise. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 24 June 2024 Thinking 6 books on the occult and mysticism Biographies, treatises and stories on the occult and its strange cast of characters. Big Think, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for treatise 

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 10 Jul. 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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