treatise
UK: ˈtriːtɪs | US: ˈtriːtɪs
n. a formal, systematic written discourse on a subject, often scholarly or theoretical
n. (archaic) a narrative or account
treatise = treat<handle, discuss> + ise<noun suffix (variant of -ice)>
- treat<handle, discuss>: From Old French traitier (to handle, negotiate), derived from Latin tractare (to manage, discuss), frequentative of trahere (to pull, draw).
- ise<noun suffix>: A variant of -ice, used to form nouns denoting state, quality, or action (e.g., practice, justice).
Etymology Origin:
The word treatise emerged in Middle English (14th century) from Anglo-French tretis, rooted in Latin tractare. It originally referred to a "handling" or "discussion" of a subject, evolving into its modern sense of a formal written exposition. The suffix -ise (later standardized as -ice) solidified its noun form, distinguishing it from the verb treat.
Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica is a foundational treatise on classical mechanics.
The professor assigned a treatise on medieval philosophy for advanced reading.
Locke’s Two Treatises of Government influenced modern political thought.
Her latest work is a treatise on environmental ethics.
(Archaic) The traveler’s treatise described distant lands in vivid detail.