Contract (k&obreve_;ntrăkt), 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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Contract (k&obreve_;ntrăkt), a. Contracted; as, a contract verb. Goodwin.
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Contract (k&obreve_;ntrăkt), n. [L. contractus, fr. contrahere: cf. F. contrat, formerly also contract.] 1. (Law) The agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of legal rights. Wharton.
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2. A formal writing which contains the agreement of parties, with the terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation.
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3. The act of formally betrothing a man and woman.
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This is the the night of the contract. Longwellow.

Syn. -- Covenant; agreement; compact; stipulation; bargain; arrangement; obligation. See Covenant.
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