See Also: contract(encyclopedia)
Contract(law)
Take and pay contract(finance)
contract(dictionary)
Contract(health)
contract(1)(dictionary)
contract(2)(dictionary)
contract 3,(dictionary)
pre-contract(1)(dictionary)
pre-contract(2)(dictionary)

contract(1) (iou)



contract noun1. ME.
[Old French (mod. contrat) from Latin contractus, from contract- pa. ppl stem of contrahere, formed as CON- + trahere draw.]
A binding agreement between two or more parties, spec. one enforceable by law; as (a) (the earliest use) a formal agreement to marry, betrothal; (b) a business agreement for the supply of goods or the performance of work at a specified price or rate; (c) the conveyance of property. ME.
quasi-contract, subcontract, etc. collateral contract: see COLLATERAL adjective. consensual contract: see CONSENSUAL adjective 1. nude contract: see NUDE adjective 2. privity of contract: see PRIVITY 5. social contract: see SOCIAL adjective. under contract party to a legal contract. yellow dog contract: see YELLOW adjective.
b. An arrangement for someone to be killed, usu. by a hired assassin. slang. M20.
A document in which an agreement is set out for signature by the parties concerned. E17.
Mutual attraction. E-M17.
The branch of law relating to contracts. M19.
The commitment to make a stated number of tricks in a hand of bridge. Also ellipt., contract bridge. E20.
Comb.: contract bridge: see BRIDGE noun2; contract killer a hired assassin; contract work: done according to the terms of an agreement to supply a service, commodity, etc. (formerly often with derog. connotation).