n. [ Abbrev.fr. tractate. ] A written discourse or dissertation, generally of short extent; a short treatise, especially on practical religion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The church clergy at that time writ the best collection of tracts against popery that ever appeared. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tracts for the Times. See Tractarian. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tractus a drawing, train, track, course, tract of land, from trahere tractum, to draw. Senses 4 and 5 are perhaps due to confusion with track. See Trace, v., and cf. Tratt. ] 1. Something drawn out or extended; expanse. “The deep tract of hell.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A region or quantity of land or water, of indefinite extent; an area; as, an unexplored tract of sea. [ 1913 Webster ]

A very high mountain joined to the mainland by a narrow tract of earth. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Traits; features; lineaments. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a great weakness. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The footprint of a wild beast. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Track; trace. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Efface all tract of its traduction. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

But flies an eagle flight, bold, and forthon,
Leaving no tract behind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Treatment; exposition. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Continuity or extension of anything; as, the tract of speech. [ Obs. ] Older. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Continued or protracted duration; length; extent. “Improved by tract of time.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (R. C. Ch.) Verses of Scripture sung at Mass, instead of the Alleluia, from Septuagesima Sunday till the Saturday befor Easter; -- so called because sung tractim, or without a break, by one voice, instead of by many as in the antiphons. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Region; district; quarter; essay; treatise; dissertation. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To trace out; to track; also, to draw out; to protact. [ Obs. ] Spenser. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tractabilitas: cf.F. tractabilite. ] The quality or state of being tractable or docile; docility; tractableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. tractabilis, fr, tractare to draw violently, to handle, treat. See Treat, v. t. ] 1. Capable of being easily led, taught, or managed; docile; manageable; governable; as, tractable children; a tractable learner. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall find them tractable enough. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being handled; palpable; practicable; feasible; as, tractable measures. [ Obs. ] Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

--Tract"a*ble*ness, n. -- Tract"a/bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Tractarians, or their principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Ch. of England) One of the writers of the Oxford tracts, called “Tracts for the Times, ” issued during the period 1833-1841, in which series of papers the sacramental system and authority of the Church, and the value of tradition, were brought into prominence. Also, a member of the High Church party, holding generally the principles of the Tractarian writers; a Puseyite. [ 1913 Webster ]

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n. (Ch. of England) The principles of the Tractarians, or of those persons accepting the teachings of the “Tracts for the Times.” [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tractatus a touching, handling, treatise. See Tractable, and Tract a treatise, Treaty. ] A treatise; a tract; an essay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Agreeing in substance with Augustin's, from whose fourteenth Tractate on St. John the words are translated. Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. tractatio. ] Treatment or handling of a subject; discussion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A full tractation of the points controverted. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]