“contract” in Latin

locatio: conductio (the conductor stipulates to receive from the locator a certain sum, merces, for the performance of some work; e.g., the erection of a building, or in consideration for the use and enjoyment of a thing to be returned. In the case of buildings, the contractor was called redemptor): redemptio (building-contract, or contract for the performance of a work): redemptura (only Liv., 23, 48, redempturis augere patrimonium, and Ulp.): conditio (the stipulated terms). For the general terms, pactum, pactio; conventus, conventum, pactum conventum; conditio atque pactum [Vid: COMPACT]. The contract, lex locationis or conductionis (the terms of it), tabulae locationis (the contract itself, for which locatio is used metonomy, Attius, 1, 17, 3): *tabulae conductionis or conductio (for the conductor): syngrapha (the deed, as signed by both parties): the portico was restored by contract, porticus locatione reficiebatur (Cic.); they complained that the contract was too high, questi sunt, se nimium magno conduxisse: to cancel a contract, locationem inducere (Cic.): pactionem rescindere (Cic.): the contract was thrown up, renuntiata est tota conductio (Cic., Verr., 1, 6, 17, ed. Zumpt: al. conditio): to undertake the contract, opus redimere (e.g., navem fabricandam, Ulp.), or conducere (e.g., columnam faciendam, Cic., the person from whom it is taken, de aliquo). By the terms of the contract, ex conductione; ex lege locationis: the amount of the contract, the sum specified in the contract, locarium (the sum which the lessor fixes and receives; but Varr., L.L., 5, 15, seems to confine it to the sum paid for a shop, stall, etc., quod datur, in stabulo et taberna ubi consistant, Lib., 5, 15): merces, mercedula (the sum to be paid by a lessee, rent, etc.): vectigal (as income, revenue, etc., of the lessor, etc.): *pretium conducti. The faithful observance of contracts, rerurn contractarum fides (Cic., Off., 1, 5, 2). In every contract, in omni re contrahendi (Cic., Off., 2, 18): in concluding contracts, in contrahendis negotiis (Cic., Off., 2, 11): to enter into a contract with anybody, contrahere cum aliquo (Cic., Tusc., 5, 36; and Off., 2, 18, 64).

MARRIAGE-CONTRACT; pactio nuptialis; pactio matrimonii (Tac.). The marriage-contract, tabulae nuptiales; dotis tabellae. To conclude a marriage-contract, pactionem nuptialem facere (Liv.; to enter into it): dotis tabellas consignare (to sign it, of the actual signing and sealing): to violate a marriage-contract, tabulas nuptiales rumpere.

Draw together into a smaller compass: contrahere (general term): the limbs; membra [opposed to porrigere]; supercilia [opposed to deducere]; collum [opposed to tendere]; frontem [ = to wrinkle it, Cic.]: a speech, orationem [opposed to summittere] (into the space of a few books, in paucos libros): constringere (to bind together, then figuratively = to compress; a speech, chain of reasoning, etc.): astringere (to compress tightly: opposed to solvere; e.g., the hands: then of cold, medicines; and finally of compressing a speech): coartare (to force into a narrow space, iter, viam): colligere (e.g., orbem, of troops): coangustare (rare: Hist. Varr.: to contract a pipe, tube, etc., fistulam, Cels.).

Draw together upon ourselves; hence form, incur, etc., contrahere, (general term, in nearly all the meanings of the English verb: thus, contrahere amicitiam, Cic.; morbum, Plin.; saginam corporis, Justinus; aes alienum, Cic.; matrimonia, Suet.): colligere (e.g., the habit of endurance, usum patiendi, Ov.). To contract an intimacy with anybody, recipere aliquem in familiaritatem: consuetudinem facere cum aliquo [ ☞ not contrahere familiaritatem cum aliquo, Krebs]: to contract an illness, contrahere adversam valetudinem; from or by anything, aliqua re; contrahere causam valetudinis ex aliqua re (e.g., ex profluvio alvi, Suet.): morbum nancisci: to contract debts, aes alienum contrahere, facere, conflare: rust, robiginem trahere (Plin., ), from any cause, aliqua re: to contract a habit, facere sibi morem (aliquid faciendi; but this implies more exercise of will than to “contract :” Vid: colligere above). To contract a marriage, in matrimonium ire, matrimonium contrahere. More under the substantives with which “contract” is used.

To contract anybody to another (in marriage): spondere or despondere alicui aliquem [ ☞ desponsare, late]: to be contracted to anybody, alicui desponderi: contracted to anybody, sponsa or desponsa alicui.

To shorten syllables by abridgment: contrahere (contrahi duo verba dicuntur, cum in priore ultima vocalis eliditur, quia sequens verbum a vocali incipit, ad hiatum evitandum; item sine vocalibus brevitatis causa; ut multi’ modis. Singula etiam verba contrahi dicuntur, ut cum bis dicitur pro duis, ala pro axilla: Schütz, Lex. Cic.): imminuere verbum (Cic., Or., 47, 157; e.g., nosse for novisse): duas syllabas in unam cogere (to contract two syllables into one: after Quint.): excutere syllabam (to throw out a syllable; as dixti for dixisti; deprendere for deprehendere, Quint.).

Render contracted (= narrow): to narrow; coangustare (PROP.; e.g., fistulam; Vid: above): *angustum reddere. To contract the mind, *animum angustum or parvum et exiguum reddere [ ☞ contrahere animum is to make it sad; to distress it].

INTR., se contrahere (e.g., the lungs, pulmones: also of animals): se astringere, astringi (of the intestines). CONTRACTED (as adjective), contractus: contractus et angustus: angustus (narrow). Contracted means or circumstances, angustiae rei familiaris: tenuitas: contracta paupertas (Hor.).

As an epithet of the mind: angustus (narrow; animus, Cic.): minutus et angustus (Cic.): parvus (Cic.): parvus exiguusque (Juv., little): tenuis (e.g., animus, ingenium): imbecillus (weak).