From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Treatise \Trea"tise\, noun [OE. tretis, OF. treitis, traitis, well made. See {Treat}.]
1. A written composition on a particular subject, in which its principles are discussed or explained; a tract. --Chaucer.
He published a treatise in which he maintained that a marriage between a member of the Church of England and a dissenter was a nullity. --Macaulay.
Note: A treatise implies more form and method than an essay, but may fall short of the fullness and completeness of a systematic exposition.
2. Story; discourse. [R.] --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a formal exposition
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