Treatise

2 definitions found

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

  Treatise \Trea"tise\, n. [OE. tretis, OF. treitis, traitis, well
     made. See {Treat}.]
     1. A written composition on a particular subject, in which
        its principles are discussed or explained; a tract.
        --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]


  
              He published a treatise in which he maintained that
              a marriage between a member of the Church of England
              and a dissenter was a nullity.        --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: A treatise implies more form and method than an essay,
           but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of
           a systematic exposition.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Story; discourse. [R.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  treatise
       n : a formal exposition