precontract
Earlier binding agreement
A precontract is an agreement made before another agreement—specifically, a prior betrothal or marriage contract that could invalidate a later one.
In historical and legal contexts, precontracts were serious matters: The marriage was annulled on grounds of precontract.
The term appears mostly in discussions of medieval and early modern marriage law, where a secret precontract could dissolve what seemed a valid union.
Formal internal correspondence
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- accordHarmony between parties
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- compactTightly packed together
covenant · protocol · stipulation · provision · framework · preliminary · terms · outline
Legally or morally required
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- promiseCommitment to act
- dutyRequired moral task
pledge · bond · guarantee · oath · vow · stipulation · clause · provision
Commitment to wed or attend
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- promiseCommitment to act
- fiancéMan pledged to marry
- fiancéeEngaged woman
marriage · wedding · dowry · annulment · canonical · ecclesiastical · impediment · troth
Uncertain and provisional
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- conditionalDependent on prerequisites
- nonbindingNot legally compulsory
- exploratorySeeking to discover
interim · draft · contingent · subject to · pending · revocable · amendable · unfinalized
memorandum
Formal internal correspondence
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- accordHarmony between parties
- pactFormal agreement between parties
compact · covenant · protocol · stipulation · provision · framework · preliminary · terms · outline · negotiation
binding
Legally or morally required
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- promiseCommitment to act
duty · pledge · bond · guarantee · oath · vow · stipulation · clause · provision · requirement
engagement
Commitment to wed or attend
fiancée · marriage · wedding · dowry · annulment · canonical · ecclesiastical · impediment · troth · handfasting
tentative
Uncertain and provisional
- preliminaryBefore the main part
- conditionalDependent on prerequisites
- nonbindingNot legally compulsory
exploratory · interim · draft · contingent · subject to · pending · revocable · amendable · unfinalized · preparatory
contract, extract, contraction, contracted, contractor, contracts, contracting, detractor, detract