contract

n

1. compact, covenant, concordat, convention, pact, treaty, entente, alliance; settlement, arrangement, understanding, agreement, gentleman's agreement, deal, bargain, transaction; bond, indenture, commitment, obligation, Sl. hit, Sl. death warrant; warrant, warranty, guarantee, guaranty, pledge, word, promise, sponsion.

2. legal document, cartel, acknowledgment, written acknowledgment, written guarantee or guaranty, written warranty, written pledge or promise; written agreement, deed, lease.

3. betrothal, betrothing, betrothment, engagement, espousal, sponsalia, plighting, match, marriage compact, vow, subarrhation, Archaic. affiance.

v

4. compress, condense, concentrate, abstract, synopsize, summarize, digest, brief, epitomize; constrict, straiten, constringe, astringe, squeeze, tighten, cramp, pinch, bind, wrap up, coarctate; reduce, retrench, shorten, lessen, curtail, decrease, diminish, cut, cut down, cut back, cut off, cut short, subtract, subduct, abbreviate, abridge, narrow, bridge, crop, clip, shear, trim, prune, pare down.

5. wrinkle, knit, crinkle, crease, ruffle, rumple, raddle, ruck, corrugate; purse, purse up, pucker.

6.(all usually of disease) catch, get, acquire, break out with, come down with, become infected with; expose oneself to.

7. incur, bring upon, fall into, lie under, bind oneself to, be obligated to; be liable, be responsible for, be answerable for, be chargeable for, be accountable for, be amenable to, be legally responsible for.

8. settle, establish, agree on, covenant, make or strike a bargain, come to terms; negotiate, make terms, adjust, work out, pound out, hammer out, bargain, dicker, haggle, higgle, Sl. hassle, Scot. argle-bargle; stipulate, limit, circumscribe, demarcate, bound.

9. enter into, assume, take on, take up, undertake, essay into, embark on or upon, set about, engage in, enter upon, agree, go in for, endeavor, try, tackle; form, develop, forge, generate, constitute, institute, fashion, organize, build, erect, engender, beget, breed, hatch; cultivate, solicit, Inf. tout; promote, propound, lobby, push; vow, vouch, indent, promise, commit oneself to.

10. betroth, engage, affiance, plight, plight one's troth, espouse, bind, give one's hand, bestow one's hand upon, publish the banns, Obs. affy.

11. shrink, become smaller, shrivel, wither, dwindle, decline, fall off, abate, subside, fall away, waste, wane, ebb.