Treat | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Trēat, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. TREATED; p. pr. & vb. n. TREATING.] [Fr. traiter, O. Fr. traitier, treitier, Pr. & O. Sp. tractar, N. Sp. tratar, Pg. tractar, tratar, It. trattare, from Lat. tractare, to draw violently, to handle, manage, treat, v. intens. from trahere, tractum, to draw; A-S. trahtian, treahtigean.]

To handle; to manage; to use; as, to treat prisoners ill is the characteristic of barbarians.
To discourse on; to handle in a particular manner, in writing or speaking; as, to treat a subject diffusely.
To entertain with food or drink, especially the latter, as a compliment or expression of regard; as, to treat the whole company.
To negotiate; to settle. [Obs.]

To treat the peace, a hundred senators Shall be commissioned. Dryden.

To manage in the application of remedies; as, to treat a disease, or a patient.
To subject to some action; as, to treat a substance with sulphuric acid. Ure.
To entreat; to beseech. [Obs.]

Trēat, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to make discussions; as, Cicero treats of the nature of the gods; he also treats of old age and of duties.

Now of love they treat.mMilton.

Sense 2. To come to terms of accommodation.

Inform us, . . . will the emperor treat? mSwift.

Sense 3. To give an entertainment of food or drink, especially the latter, as a compliment or expression of regard.

To treat with, to negotiate with; to make and receive proposals with, for adjusting differences; as, envoys were appointed to treat with France.

Trēat, n.

noun

n. 1. Parley; conference. [Obs.] Bid him battle without further treat. Spencer.

An entertainment given as an expression of regard; as, a parting treat.
Something given for entertainment; something which affords much pleasure; as, a rich treat.