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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tretis(e, Treté, n. Also: tretys(e, -yis, -eis, -eys, treiteis, treatise, -ice, -es(e, -eis, -isse, -esse, trettis, -ys, tretee, -y(e, -i(e, treitie, treitty, treatty, -ie, treatie, tretté, -y, -ey, traite(e, -y, -ie, traitty, -ie, trat(t)ie, tracteis, traictise, trecty, traictie. [ME and e.m.E. tretis, tretys, trete(e (all Chaucer), tretice (c1400), traitie (c1450), trety (1469), treatyce (Malory), treatise (1526), treaty (1552), AF tretiz, treté. Cf. Tret(e v.]It is often unclear whether forms in -s are singular or plural.

1. Treating, dealing with (of) (a matter); negotiation, discussion of terms (in order to achieve a satisfactory outcome).(a) 1375 Barb. xix 145.
The Scottis messingeris thar he fand Off pes and rest to haiff tretis c1420 Wynt. v 2207.
And sum wytht trettys [C. trety, W. tretis] and sum wyth awe, He gert all till hys serwyce drawe(b) 1400 Facs. Nat. MSS II liii.
Fore tretee of the quhilk matere will yhe dedeyn to charge the lord the Fournivalle [etc.] 1409 Douglas Chart. 370.
Gif thai may nocht acorde be trety in lufely manere, thai sall call bath the partyis … befor thaim and thair counsele c1420 Wynt. iv 156.
Syne it hapnyd thame to be Accordyt welle be fayre trete [W. tretie] 1460 Hay Alex. 3012.
Becaus that thai tretie ay presumit Thay war nocht busie at the forgerie And wantit schot(c) 1460 Hay Alex. 2936.
The duke wald haue tratie erar than were

b. An instance of the above, a course or episode of negotiation. c1475 Wall. vii 1267.
Dunde thai gat sone be a schort trete [: se] 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 600.
Wayes that wer takin by sundrie of our statesmen for caring one the trettey with the king

2. A negotiated settlement, binding agreement or arrangement (of a matter).(a) 1375 Barb. xi 35.
Quhen schyr Eduuard … Had gevyn sa owtrageous a day To ȝeld or reskew Strewillyne, Rycht to the king he went him syne And tauld quhat tretys [C. tretis] he had mad 1375 Barb. xx 47.
In-till that tretys wp thai gaff … all the clame that thai mycht haff In-till Scotland c1420 Wynt. ix 942 (W).
That tyme … Wes a tretis [C. treteys] of vnyte Betuix the Franche and Inglismen c1420 Wynt. ix 1091.
At Boloyngne than … A trete ordanyd wes to be Betwix the kyngis off trew and pes … In till the tyme off this trettis [etc.] 1456 Hay I 276/13.
All princis and jugis suld be redy to all acordis and frendschippis and tretys 1563 Laing MSS 20.
The wordes of the treateis maid be the commissioners that mett at Carlisle … tueching redressing of value for value 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 278.
The said peax daitit this said day … efter the concluding of the treatise foirsaid c1575 Balfour Pract. 613.
Everie ane of the aforesaid wardanis sall heirefter keip, observe, and execute his office, according to the treatise of peace(b) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 36 (C).
The queyn Eleyn, that wyst how so Troyiens the tretty with to mo As lyked the Gregeois, for to pas To pees [L. sciens quod pax erat tractanda cum Grecis] c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1856.
Pallamidas … with Troyens had All trety and full connand maid [L. cum Troianis … tractauisse] c1420 Wynt. vii 921.
That land … Wes gyvyn on that condytyowne To fownd thare a relygyowne. The kyng … favoryd that trette [W., C. trete] 1456 Hay I 247/8.
To mak trety, gif ony king Sarrazene wald be at the faith, that he wald be asseurit to cum to commoun with Cristyn folk 1513 Doug. xii xi 42.
Thou … That be thi craft and quent wylis sa sle Our confideratioun trublit and trete [L. cum prima per artem foedera turbasti] 1546–7 Corr. M. Lorraine 174.
Ther wald be ane trety of pece with sum trety of the mariage bot nocht with sa strait and rigorus conditionis as was in the first contract c1650 Spalding I 212.
Heiring certanlie of a treattie past betuixt the king and his subiectis at Bervik(c) 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 443.
Traictie(d) 1643 Acts VI i 43/2.
Traittie 1669–70 Lauder Jrnl. 228.
That all princes authorize the treatie and that nothing be retracted of the traitty of the Pyrenees save what is disposed on by this 1685 Lauder Observes 212.
Traitee

b. A document recording such a settlement, a written treaty or truce. 1398–9 Acts I 212/1.
The message & the treteis to be send in France & in Inglande as is befor sayd 1552 Treas. Acc. X 124.
For ane greite cord of gold and silk to hing the greite seill of the confirmatioune upoun the treatty maid upoun the divisioun of the Debatable land

3. Entreaty, earnest request or solicitation.(a) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 191.
The capitane [of Edinburgh Castle] … wald not deliuer the same [sc. the Honours of Scotland] … for na treatice that culd be maid thairfoir(b) c1420 Wynt. vi 2041.
Makbeth … felny gret thare wald have done, Bot this lady, wyth fayre trette [C., W. trete], Hys purpos lettyde c1450-2 Howlat 253 (B).
All his tretye [A. trety] hes he tald be termes in test a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 356.
Thairfore meikly with mouth mel to that myld And mak him na manace bot al mesoure Thus with trety ye cast yon trew vndre tyld a1500 Henr. Fab. 323.
Ryse vp my sister deir! Cum to ȝour meit … With fair tretie … scho gart hir vpryse 15.. Clar. v 535.
Treatie 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 183b.
John Scharpe for treitty & supplicatione maid to hym be the prouest & ballies hes resauit the bairnis of vmquhill Villiam Lokirbye 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 11a.
Pryde makis plie, quhair tretie hes no cwir 1603 Philotus 1118.
The ȝoungest las in all this citie, Sall byde na mair requeist nor treitie

b. Offer of truce.(a) 1375 Barb. x 125 (C).
Schir Alexander of Argill, that saw The king distroy vp, cleyn and law, His land, send tretis [E. treyteris, 1571 tretise] to the king, And com his man [but] tarying(b) c1420 Wynt. vi 1715.
Than send he message off trette Till Schyr Edmwnd, [and] … Be cownsalle than thai trettyd swa All Ingland to be delt in twa 1460 Hay Alex. 3074.
Thay send ane trattie, that wald he grant a thing Thay suld the toun to him but straik resinge a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 752.
Thair wes na trety of treux … Quhen thai myghty can mach on mold quhair thai met

4. A literary work, treatise or dissertation (also, of some named subject).(a) c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 17.
As Gwido de Columpna qwhille … and Vyrgylle Fayrly fowrmyde thaire tretis [W. tretys, E.² treiteis] c1420 Wynt. ii Prol. 2 (C).
Tretyis [W. tretis] c1420 Liber Calchou 448.
A nobyl tretyse made of a gud phesician … for medicene agayne the pestilens jwyll c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. heading (M).
Heir beginis the tretis of the Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo 15.. Clar. ii 1812.
Treatese 1561 Facs. Nat. MSS III xlv.
The Quen of Scotland traualeht earnestlie to haue a treatisse intitilled The First Blast of the Trompett [con]futid 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 160.
[Nothing was intended but a defence of her honour against so many blasphemous] treateis [and] pamflettis [as have been sent abroad] c1616 Hume Orthog. 2.
Treates c1616 Hume Orthog. 34.
Treatessepl. 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. 95/15.
[They] vrait … traiterous treatesis aganis hir maiestie(b) 1581 Burne Disput. 157b.
Sanct Luk … peraduenture vald haue vryttin ane tracteis for the vndirstanding of thir vordis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 71/2.
Traictise(c) c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 4.
This lytill trety, the quhilk is callyt the Craft of Deyng a1500 Henr. Orph. heading (Ch. & M.).
Heire begynnis the traitie of Orpheus king 1490 Irland Mir. III 43/3.
Treti 1494 Loutfut MS 6a.
Trety [Lindsay MS traity] 1494 Loutfut MS 78a.
Trecty 1563 Ferg. Tracts 36.
If I shuld rehears all suche sentences … this small treatie wold growe to a great volome 1609 Crim. Trials II 582.
Traite