TRACE, noun [Latin tractus, tracto. See Track, and the verb trace ]

1. A mark left by any thing passing; a footstep; a track; a vestige; as the trace of a carriage or sled; the trade of a man or of a deer.

2. Remains; a mark, impression or visible appearance of any thing left when the thing itself no longer exists. We are told that there are no traces of ancient Babylon now to be seen.

The shady empire shall retain no trace

Of war or blood, but in the sylvan chase.

TRACE, noun Traces, in a harness, are the straps, chains or ropes by which a carriage or sleigh is drawn by horses. [Locally these are called tugs.]

TRACE, verb transitive [Latin tracto, from traho; Eng. to draw, to drag.]

1. To mark out; to draw or delineate with marks; as, to race a figure with a pencil; to trace the outline of any thing.

2. To follow by some mark that has been left by something which has preceded; to follow by footsteps or tracks.

You may trace the deluge quite round the globe.

I feel thy power to trace the ways

Of highest agents.

3. To follow with exactness.

That servile path thou nobly do'st decline,

Of tracing word by word, and line by line.

4. To walk over.

We do trace this alley up and down.