I.a touching, handling, working.
I. Lit. (rare; “not in Cic.): nucum,” Plin. 15, 22, 24, § 87: “plantae tractatu mansuescunt ut ferae,” id. 17, 10, 12, § 66: “tofacea aspera tractatu,” id. 17, 7, 4, § 44.—
II. Trop., a handling, management, treatment (class.; esp. freq. in Quint.): artium (corresp. to the preced. tractantur), * Cic. de Or. 3, 23, 86: “asperiorum tractatu rerum atteruntur (ingenia),” Quint. 8, prooem. § 2; so, “artis hujusce,” id. ib. § 5: “communis locorum,” id. 12, 8, 2: “temporis,” id. 5, 10, 42: “troporum,” id. 1, 8, 16: “aequi bonique,” id. 12, 1, 8; 12, 2, 3: “judicialis officii,” Gell. 14, 2, 20; Vell. 2, 94, 4.—In plur.: “tractatus omnes,” Quint. 7, 6, 12: “legales,” id. 3, 8, 4.—
2. Esp., of mental handling. reflection, consideration: “de copiis expensisque,” Veg. Mil. 3, 3; Dig. 19, 5, 5: “si cognitio prolixiorem tractatum habeat,” ib. 36, 1, 3: “in tractatu habere,” Lact. Mort. Pers. 48, 2. —
3. A consultation, discussion: “cum tractatu habito societas coïta est,” Dig. 17, 2, 32: “diu multumque tractatu inter nos habito,” Cypr. Ep. 3, 3. —
B. Transf., in concr.
