OE. treten, Old French traitier, French traiter, from Low tractare to draw violently, to handle, manage, treat, verb intensive from trahere, tractum, to draw. See Trace, verb transitive, and cf. Entreat, Retreat, Trait.
To handle; to manage; to use; to bear one's self toward; as, to treat prisoners cruelly; to treat children kindly.
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 as an expression of friendship or regard; as, to treat the whole company.
[Obsolete] To negotiate; to settle; to make terms for.
To treat the peace, a hundred senators Shall be commissioned.
— Dryden.
(Medicine) To care for medicinally or surgically; to manage in the use of remedies or appliances; as, to treat a disease, a wound, or a patient.
To subject to some action; to apply something to; as, to treat a substance with sulphuric acid. Ure.
[Obsolete] To entreat; to beseech. Ld. Berners.
Treat
verb intransitive
To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to make discussion; — usually with of; as, Cicero treats of old age and of duties.