Definition of "treaty" []

• A formal agreement between two or more states, as in reference to terms of peace or trade. (noun)
• The document in which such an agreement is set down. (noun)
• A contract or agreement. (noun)
• Obsolete Negotiation for the purpose of reaching an agreement. (noun)
• Obsolete An entreaty. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "After flaring the opinion they had formerly cxprefled, that although the British government did not feel itfelf at liberty to relinquilh formally by treaty, its claim to fearch our mer - chant veflels foHJritilh feamen, its praflice would neverthelefs be eflentially, if not completely abandoned, they obferve — 11 That opinion has fince been confirmed by frequent confer - ences on the fubjed with the Britifh commiilioners, who have repeatedly affured as that in their judgment, we were made as feciire againft the exercife of their pretention by the policy their government Imd adopted, in regard to that very delicate and important queftion, as we could have been made by treaty*"
• ""As to Mr Oswald's offer to make an acknowledgment of our independence the first article of our treaty, and your Excellency's remark, that it is sufficient, and that _we are not to expect the effect before the cause_, permit us to observe, that by the _cause_, we suppose, is intended the _treaty_, and by the _effect_, an acknowledgment of our independence."
• "If a treaty is a more grave thing (since it can entangle the country with European machinations) it stands to reason that ratifying should be subject to a large supermajority."