The truth is, she and I, long since contracted,
Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us.
Shak.
6. (Gram.) To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.
Syn. -- To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce; confine; incur; assume.
Con*tract" (k&obreve;n*trăkt"), v. i. 1. To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; as, iron contracts in cooling; a rope contracts when wet.
Years contracting to a moment.
Wordsworth.
2. To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; as, to contract for carrying the mail.
Con"tract (k&obreve;n"trăkt), a. Contracted; as, a contract verb. Goodwin.
Con*tract" (k&obreve;n*trăkt"), a. [L. contractus, p. p.] Contracted; affianced; betrothed. [Obs.] Shak.
Con"tract (k&obreve;n"trăkt), n. [L. contractus, fr. contrahere: cf. F. contrat, formerly also contract.] 1. (Law) The agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of legal rights. Wharton.
2. A formal writing which contains the agreement of parties, with the terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation.