term:

Treaty

treaty n

pl: treaties
[Anglo-French treté, from Middle French traité, from Medieval Latin tractatus, from Latin, handling, treatment, from tractare to treat, handle]
1 : the action of treating and esp. of negotiating
2 : an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation: as
a : private treaty
b : a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state [the president…shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties "U.S. Constitution art. II"] compare executive agreement
3 : a document embodying a negotiated agreement or contract
4 : an agreement or contract (as between companies) providing for treaty reinsurance

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.