Contráct, vb. 1) to draw together; a) to shorten: “extended or --ed all proportions,” All's V, 3, 51. cf. Hml. V, 1, 71. b) to cripple, to palsy: “aches c. and starve your supple joints,” Tim. I, 1, 257. c) to wrinkle, to knit: “our whole kingdom to be --ed in one brow of woe,” Hml. I, 2, 4. “didst c. and purse thy brow together,” Oth. III, 3, 113.
2) to stipulate: “the articles of --ed peace,” H6B I, 1, 40.
3) to betroth: “c. us 'fore these witnesses,” Wint. IV, 4, 401. Partic. “--ed:” Sonn. 56, 10. Wiv. V, 5, 236. Wint. V, 3, 5. H4A IV, 2, 17. Followed by “to:” Sonn. 1, 5. Meas. V, 380. Tw. V, 268. Lr. V, 3, 228. Partic. contract: “he was c. to Lady Lucy,” R3 III, 7, 179.
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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