Contracting

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Contract \Con*tract"\ (k[o^]n*tr[a^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Contracted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Contracting}.] [L. contractus,
     p. p. of contrahere to contract; con- + trahere to draw: cf.
     F. contracter. See {Trace}, and cf. {Contract}, n.]
     1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass;
        to shorten, narrow, or lessen; as, to contract one's


        sphere of action.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our
              faculties.                            --Dr. H. More.
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     2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
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              Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. --Shak.
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     3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a
        habit; to contract a debt; to contract a disease.
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              Each from each contract new strength and light.
                                                    --Pope.
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              Such behavior we contract by having much conversed
              with persons of high station.         --Swift.
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     4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain
        or covenant for.
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              We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and
              lague with the aforesaid queen.       --Hakluyt.
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              Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within
              the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by
              law.                                  --Strype.
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     5. To betroth; to affiance.
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              The truth is, she and I, long since contracted,
              Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
                                                    --Shak.
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     6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by
        reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.
  
     Syn: To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen;
          condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  contracting \contracting\ n.
     the act or process of acquiring an infectious disease;
     contraction; as, the contracting of a serious illness can be
     financially catastrophic.
  
     Syn: catching.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  contracting
       n : becoming infected; "catching cold is sometimes unavoidable";
           "the contracting of a serious illness can be financially
           catastrophic" [syn: {catching}]