contract
Cross references:
1. incur
1. con.tract \'ka:n-.trakt\ n [ME, fr. L contractus, fr. contractus, pp. of
contrahere to d] [2contract]raw together, make a contract, reduce in size,
fr. com- + trahere to draw 1a: a binding agreement between two or more
persons or parties : COVEN ANT 1b: BETROTHAL 2: a writing made by the
parties to evidence the terms and conditions of a contract 3: the
department or principles of law having to do with contracts 4: an
undertaking to win a specified number of tricks or points in bridge 5: a
word or form undergoing contraction or resulting from contraction
2. contract aj : CONTRACTED {a ~ noun}
3. con.tract \vt 1a & vi 1 usu 'ka:n-.trakt, others usu k*n-'trakt\
\k*n-'trak-t*-b*l, 'ka:n-.\ vb [partly fr. MF contracter to agree upon, fr.
L contractus n.; partl]y fr. L contractus, pp. of contrahere to draw
together 1a: to establish or undertake by contract 1b: BETROTH 2a: CATCH
{~ a disease} 2b: INCUR {~ an obligation} 3a: LIMIT, RESTRICT 3b: KNIT,
WRINKLE {frown ~ed his brow} 3c: to draw together : CONCENTRATE 4:
SHORTEN, SHRINK 5: to shorten (as a word) by omitting one or more sounds
or letters 1: to make a contract 2a: to diminish in size of muscle 2b:
to draw to shorter and broader size STRICT, DEFLATE mean to decrease in
bulk or volume. CONTRACT is a general antonym for expand and applies to any
drawing together of bounding surfaces or component particles or to a
reducing of area, compass, or length; SHRINK implies a contracting or a
loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions;
CONDENSE implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness
without significant loss of content; COMPRESS implies a pressing into a
small compass and definite shape usu. against resistance; CONSTRICT implies
a tightening that reduces diameter; DEFLATE implies a contracting by
reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas - con.tract.ible aj
SYN syn CONTRACT, SHRINK, CONDENSE, COMPRESS, CON
Webster's English Dictionary