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to treat

to treat

5 9.9
To negotiate formally with another group to reach agreement
  • verb
  • /triːt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : negociar
  • "We have elected," he said dourly, "to ask Clinton's permission to treat with Washington.

Examples

  • The imbecility of our government even forbids them to treat with us.

    Academic text (1993)
  • They'll have to treat with me instead of Mr. Appleton.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • I will not treat with any man... while an armed host lies before my door.

  • In doing this, the Nimiipuu served notice with their behavior that they wanted to be treated as equals in the treaty negotiations.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The two countries decided to treat to establish a lasting peace agreement.

  • After much discussion, the leaders finally came together to treat and resolve their differences.

  • It was imperative for the diplomats to treat in order to secure trade negotiations for the future.

Synonyms

to negotiate
vsto treat
  • Formal
801 3.7

Try to reach an agreement by talking, often about business terms

is the archaic expression for formal negotiations
to compromise
vsto treat
215 3.7

To settle a disagreement by each side giving up something

involves formal negotiation without implying concessions
to cut a deal
vsto treat
  • Informal
94 3.5

Make an agreement after talking, often in business or politics

is more formal and older than this informal transactional sense
35 3.0

Decide together after talking about the terms

highlights the negotiation act instead of merely the final result
to haggle
vsto treat
26 3.3

To argue about the price to try to pay less

is a formal, possibly polite negotiation rather than informal bargaining
to settle with
vsto treat
22 4.1

To reach an agreement with someone to end a dispute

stresses negotiation process whereas this focuses on final agreement
1 3.1

Make people or groups agree after an argument

emphasises formal negotiation process rather than result
to intreat
vsto treat
  • Archaic
9.9

To talk seriously with someone to reach an agreement

has identical meaning but is the archaic form

Talk about things fully to reach an agreement when people disagree

refers to formal negotiations, not only lengthy dispute discussions

Idioms

5 3.9

Give someone very special care and attention like a king or queen

1 2.7

To give someone something special as a reward

8.6

To act toward a woman without respect

Phrasal Verbs

Do something special for yourself as a reward or to relax

Compounds

17 2.1

Something you enjoy very much

trick or treat
  • Baby Talk
8 2.5

An activity where children go from house to house asking for sweets on Halloween

1 5.9

An occasion when each person pays for their own meal or drink

A small snack in the afternoon like tea and cookies

fishsicle treat
  • Baby Talk
7.7

A frozen snack shaped like a fish that children often eat

frogsicle treat
  • Baby Talk
9.4

A frozen sweet shaped like a frog that children eat

A soft, chewy candy that tastes like fruit

How Formal

to conclude
  • Formal
50 3.9
to treat
  • Archaic
5 9.9
to negotiate
  • Formal
801 3.7
to discuss
1.6
talk
947 1.0

Surface Forms

treat infinitive
treated past
treated past participle
treating present participle
treats third person singular

Etymology

Treat comes from an old word meaning 'to handle' or 'deal with', sharing the root tract with words like tractor. In older use, to treat with another power meant to 'deal with' them in formal talks to reach an agreement.