treating

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtɹiːtɪŋ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: treat‧ing

Verb

treating

  1. present participle and gerund of treat

Noun

treating (countable and uncountable, plural treatings)

  1. Treatment.
    • 1892, Ambrose Bierce, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians - Holy Terror:
      [] it would appear that before taking this precaution Mr. Bree must have had the thrift to remove a modest competency of the gold; at any rate, it was at about that time that he entered upon that memorable series of potations and treatings which is still one of the cherished traditions of the San Juan Smith country []
  2. (historical, uncountable) The practice of men providing young women ("charity girls") with entertainment outings, gifts, etc. in exchange for companionship and intimate activity.
  3. (UK and Commonwealth, law, uncountable) The electoral offence of offering an inducement such as food, drink or entertainment to a voter.
    • 1853, Samuel Warren, The Law and Practice of Election Committees: Being the Completion of A Manual of Parliamentary Election Law ..., London : Butterworths, page 522:
      In the ensuing year [ 1804 ], in the Middlesex case, Mr. Mainwaring was charged with treating - by means of victuals supplied at an inn, at Brentford, by the order of persons proved to be his agents, and for which other persons, also proved to be his agents, had promised to pay.
    • 1853, George Francis Stewart ELLIOT (Hon.), Thoughts on the subject of bribery and corruption at elections, page 25:
      Where such a combination does not exist, any amount of bribery, treating, and intimidation may be carried on with perfect impunity
    • 2015 May 21, Boris Johnson, “Mayor's Question Time - Elections in Tower Hamlets”, in Greater London Authority[1]:
      He said the ballots were double-cast or cast from false addresses; false statements were made against Mr Biggs [John Biggs AM, candidate for Mayor of Tower Hamlets]; there was money that was given to organisations who were ineligible for organisations; treating took place, that is to say free food and drink was dished out to people to vote for Mr Rahman; and there was what is called spiritual influence - voters were told it was their religious duty to vote for Mr Rahman.

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