tractate
Americannoun
noun
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a short tract; treatise
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Judaism one of the volumes of the Talmud
Etymology
Origin of tractate
1425–75; late Middle English < Medieval Latin tractātus, Latin: handling, treatment, equivalent to tractā ( re ) to handle, treat (frequentative of trahere to draw) + -tus suffix of v. action
Explanation
A tractate is like a supercharged academic essay — it’s a formal written work that provides a detailed exploration of a specific subject. A tractate is a detailed scholarly text that thoroughly explores a specific topic. Commonly found in academic, legal, and philosophical contexts, these writings are essential for deep dives into complex subjects. For example, a tractate might analyze a legal principle, discuss ethical dilemmas in modern society, or explore historical events in depth. Each tractate provides a foundation for further study and debate, making them crucial for students and professionals who seek to understand specialized topics.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Sofers have always been rabbis. Holy men. As noted in the Talmud, tractate Gittin 45b.”
From Nature • Mar. 28, 2017
One esoteric belief, derived from a passage in the Talmudic tractate Rosh Hashanah, proposes that death from a serious illness may be averted by an eleventh-hour name change.
From Slate • Mar. 10, 2016
AT 3AM, a thousand young men are all poring over the same page in the Babylonian Talmud tractate of Kiddushin, which deals with definitions of matrimony in ancient rabbinical law.
From Economist • Jun. 25, 2015
This particular page is the first chapter of the first tractate in the Talmud, named Berakhot or "Blessings".
From BBC • Oct. 29, 2013
Then they went on to another tractate, fought over another passage, and this time Reb Saunders agreed, his face glowing, that his son was correct.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
