Agency Dictionary
Treatise
nounPronunciation: /ˈtriː.t̬ɪs/
In Portuguese: Tratado
Writing & Narrative
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Treatise” mean?
A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Etymology
From Middle English tretys, from Anglo-Norman tretiz, formed on Old French traitier, 'to deal with, to treat', from Latin tractare. The word came to name extended, systematic written works that treat a subject exhaustively and methodically.
Usage note
A treatise is more formal and exhaustive than an essay, and broader in scope than a monograph, which typically addresses a single narrow topic.
Synonyms
- monograph
- dissertation
- tract
Often confused with
- treaty
- A treaty is a formal binding agreement between states; a treatise is a systematic written work on a subject. They share a Latin root but serve entirely different purposes.
Word family
- treat
- treatment
- treatable
Usage examples
The Titanic Theory is not a technique, it is a treatise as much as it is a set of principles chosen to help writers persevere
Writing.1 - The Titanic Theory It should be written in an email, in a treatise, in a manifesto, in a paper letter, in an agenda, in a memorandum, in a corporate newsletter, and in a poster at the entrance of your building.
Concepts
- Existential WritingExistential writing is the philosophical act of writing primarily as a commitment to truth, self-discovery, and human meaning rather than commercial acclaim. It views the…
- Mission StatementA mission statement is a formal, concise declaration of an organization's core purpose, fundamental identity, and daily operational mandate. Derived from the Latin…
- The Titanic TheoryThe Titanic Theory is a literary manifesto and philosophical framework for writers navigating an automated, post-literary era. It posits that writers must act as…
- Written CommunicationWritten communication is the transmission of messages, ideas, and knowledge through structured linguistic symbols recorded on physical or digital media. Unlike spoken…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Rebirthnoun
- A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- quotationnoun
- A group of words taken verbatim from a published text or speech and repeated by another author.
- verbatimadjective
- In exactly the same words as the original, word for word. Said of a quotation or a transcription that changes nothing.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- literary devicenoun
- A technique that a writer uses to produce a particular effect or to convey meaning, such as metaphor, irony, repetition, quotation or aphorism.
- Holisticadjective
- Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
Also from these editions: terms
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- paperweightnoun
- A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
- omissionnoun
- The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- aestheticsnoun
- A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
- anesthetizedadjective
- Deprived of physical sensation or feeling, often used figuratively to describe dullness or emotional apathy.
- Authenticitynoun
- The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
- Braverynoun
- The moral quality or mental disposition that enables a person to encounter danger, difficulty, or acute pain with resolute courage, composure, and firmness of purpose.
- Catharticadjective
- Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
- Compassnoun
- A navigational instrument equipped with a magnetized needle indicating magnetic north and other cardinal directions. Metaphorically, it designates an ethical principle or core belief providing personal guidance.
- Detachmentnoun
- The state of being emotionally objective, aloof, or free from clingy psychological attachments to outcomes, possessions, or dogmas. In Eastern philosophy, it represents spiritual liberation.
- helmnoun
- The wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered. Figuratively, the position of control or leadership.
Also from these editions: concepts
- CatharsisCatharsis is the psychological and emotional release experienced by individuals when engaging deeply with intense artistic or dramatic narratives. First formulated…
- Technical ImageA technical image is a visual representation produced through scientific or mechanical apparatuses such as photography, cinema, and digital screens. It reorganizes human…
- The Iceberg TheoryThe Iceberg Theory is a literary technique coined by Ernest Hemingway asserting that the deeper meaning of a story should not be visible on the surface. By deliberately…
- Post-Literary EraA post-literary era is a cultural epoch where linear alphabetic reading ceases to be the dominant medium for storing, transmitting, and processing human knowledge. It is…
- Show, Don't TellShow, don't tell is a classic creative writing maxim advising authors to convey characters, emotions, and settings through sensory action rather than direct exposition…
- Authorial VoiceAuthorial voice is the distinct personality, stylistic rhythm, and ideological outlook that permeates a writer's work. It serves as an unmistakable literary fingerprint…
- Does Writing Have a Future?Does Writing Have a Future? is a book by Vilém Flusser. In Writing.1, the edition cites it briefly: Flusser bravely argued that writing does not have a future. Issue.16…
- Johannes GutenbergJohannes Gutenberg was a German craftsman and inventor of the fifteenth century, known for introducing printing with movable type to Europe. In the Agency editorial…
- RMS TitanicThe RMS Titanic is the ocean liner that was said to be unsinkable and sank after hitting an iceberg. In the Agency editorial it is the central allegory of the Titanic…
- ShifuShifu is the old Buddhist monk of two short stories published in the Agency editorial. In The Finger and the Moon, in Issue.4, he meets the hiker Braveheart at the top of…