treat

I. 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 friendship transitive 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

> • treater noun II. noun Date: 1651 1. a. an entertainment given without expense to those invited b. the act of providing another with free food, drink, or entertainment <

dinner will be my treat

> 2. an especially unexpected source of joy, delight, or amusement <

seeing her again was a treat

>