contract
UK[ˈkɒntrækt]US[ˈkɑːntrækt]
n
A formal written or spoken agreement that is legally binding.
v
To become smaller or shorter.
v
To make a legal agreement with someone to do work or provide goods.
v
To catch or develop a disease or illness.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
tract
con
together
tract
pull, draw
Etymology
The word 'contract' originates from the Latin contractus, the past participle of contrahere, meaning "to draw together, bring together, collect". This verb is a compound of con- (together) and trahere (to pull, draw). The literal sense of pulling things together evolved into the legal meaning of a binding agreement, which is seen as the drawing together of parties and terms. The physical sense of drawing in or shrinking (as a muscle contracts) is a direct inheritance from the original Latin meaning of pulling inward or together.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + tract (pull, draw)
con-: A Latin prefix meaning "together, with".
tract: From Latin tractus, meaning "a drawing, pulling, track", from the verb trahere "to pull, draw".
Examples
The company signed a contract to supply the materials for two years.
Metals contract when they are cooled.
He contracted a rare virus while traveling abroad.