4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or covenant for. We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the aforesaid queen. Hakluyt. Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within the degrees of consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. Strype.
5. To betroth; to affiance. The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. Shak.
6. (Gram.)
Defn: 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.
CONTRACT
Con*tract", 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.
CONTRACT
Con"tract, a.
Defn: Contracted: as, a contract verb. Goodwin.