A Treaty Is Something Handled
A treaty is a formal agreement between states. The Latin root means to handle or manage, and it also gives English treat and treatment.
A treaty is a formal agreement between states. Latin *tractare* meant to handle, manage or deal with, from *trahere*, to draw or drag — and English got a whole cluster from it: *treat*, *treatment*, *treatise*, *retreat* and *tractor*. To treat with someone was to handle a negotiation; the document produced was the treaty.
- A formal state agreement. *A peace treaty.*
- Treat — to handle or deal with. *Treat the matter carefully.*
- Treaty obligations — what it commits parties to. *Under treaty obligations.*
- Ratify — to give a treaty legal force. *Parliament ratified the treaty.*
- Treatise — a formal written work. *A treatise on optics.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | treaty | A trade treaty. |
| Plural | treaties | Two treaties. |
| Verb | treat | Treat with the enemy. |
| Related | treatise | A long treatise. |
| Related | retreat | A tactical retreat. |
- The treaty was signed in 1919.History.
- Twelve states have ratified the treaty.The legal step.
- They treated with the rebels for a week.The archaic verb: negotiated.
Treaty, convention, protocol
- Treaty — the general term for a binding agreement between states
- Convention — often a multilateral treaty on a specific subject
- Protocol — usually an addition or amendment to an existing treaty
- Accord — informal in tone, sometimes not legally binding
- Memorandum of understanding — usually not binding at all
Anglo-French *treté*, from Latin *tractatus*, a handling or discussion, from *tractare*. English has used it since the 1300s.
Are treaty and treat related?
Yes. Both come from Latin tractare, to handle. To treat with someone was to negotiate.
What does ratify mean?
To give formal consent so that a signed treaty takes legal effect. Signing and ratifying are separate steps.