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1. Dictionary

   Con·tract

   noun

   • 1. a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law: "both parties must sign employment contracts"
   • ▪ the branch of law concerned with the making and observation of contracts: "the law of contract"
   • ▪ an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin: "smuggling bosses routinely put out contracts on witnesses"
   • ▪ the declarer's undertaking to win the number of tricks bid with a stated suit as trump: "South can make the contract with correct play"
   • ▪ a formal agreement to marry: "the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed"

   verb

   • 1. decrease in size, number, or range: "glass contracts as it cools" Similar shrinkget smallerbecome smallerdecreasediminishreducedwindledeclineshrivelOpposite expandincrease
   • ▪ (of a muscle) become shorter and tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body: "the heart is a muscle that contracts about seventy times a minute" Similar tightenbecome/make tightertenseflexconstrictdraw inbecome/make narrowernarrowwrinkleknitcreasecorrugatepursepuckerOpposite relax
   • ▪ shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision: "“quasistellar object” was soon contracted to “quasar.”" Similar shortenabbreviatecutreduceabridgetruncateOpposite expandlengthen
   • 2. enter into a formal and legally binding agreement: "the local authority will contract with a wide range of agencies to provide services" Similar undertakepledgepromisecovenantcommit oneselfengageagreeenter into an agreementreach an agreementmake a dealnegotiate a deal
   • ▪ secure specified rights or undertake specified obligations in a formal and legally binding agreement: "a buyer may contract for the right to withhold payment" Similar undertakepledgepromisecovenantcommit oneselfengageagreeenter into an agreementreach an agreementmake a dealnegotiate a deal
   • ▪ impose an obligation on (someone) to do something by means of a formal agreement: "health authorities contract a hospital to treat a specific number of patients"
   • ▪ arrange for work to be done by another organization: "local authorities will have to contract out waste management"
   • ▪ formally enter into (a marriage): "before Fanny met him, he had contracted a disastrous liaison and marriage"
   • ▪ enter into (a friendship or other relationship): "the patterns of social relationships contracted by men and women differ"
   • 3. catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent): "three people contracted a killer virus" Similar developcatchgetpick upcome down withbecome infected withfall ill withbe taken ill withbe struck down withbe stricken withsuccumb togo down withinformal:take ill withtake sick with
   • 4. become liable to pay (a debt): "he contracted a debt of $3,300" Similar incurbecome liable to payacquirefall intorun up

   Word Origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractus, from contract- ‘drawn together, tightened’, from the verb contrahere, from con- ‘together’ + trahere ‘draw’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. contractee noun
   • 2. contractive adjective

   Scrabble Points: 12

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   • T

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   • R

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   • A

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