Contract \Con*tract"\ (k[o^]n*tr[a^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Contracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Contracting.] [L. contractus,
p. p. of contrahere to contract; con- + trahere to draw: cf.
F. contracter. See Trace, and cf. Contract, n.]
1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass;
to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's
sphere of action.
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In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our
faculties. --Dr. H. More.
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2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
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Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --Shak.
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3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a
habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease.
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Each from each contract new strength and light.
--Pope.
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Such behavior we contract by having much conversed
with persons of high station. --Swift.
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4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain
or covenant for.
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We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and
lague with the aforesaid queen. --Hakluyt.
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Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within
the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by
law. --Strype.
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5. To betroth; to affiance.
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The truth is, she and I, long since contracted,
Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
--Shak.
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6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by
reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.
Syn: To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen;
condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.
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