(a) A store of riches, valuable objects, accumulated wealth, spoils, etc. laid up for preservation or safekeeping, a hoard; a quantity of money, precious metals, or stones, etc.; coll. coins, jewels, costly or rare movable goods, commodities, etc.; also, esp. with possessive modifier, the wealth possessed or controlled by someone, one's fortune, one's worldly goods; also used iron. [quot. c1450 Alph.Tales]; ~ cofre (place); (b) an object of great monetary value, a precious object, a valuable; also, the subjects of a ruler considered as a source of revenue [quot. c1475]; (c) law ~ founden, a cache of objects of significant value found hidden and unclaimed by an owner [cp. tresor-trove n.]; (d) a store or quantity of something valued by its possessor, something analogous to treasure in its worth or indispensability to its owner; an object or a substance esteemed as a treasure by its owner; (e) in proverbs and prov. expressions.

In fig. uses: (a) a store of spiritual riches, nonmaterial wealth, goods, property, etc.;—freq. used of the instruction, sacraments, redemptive power, etc. of the Church or of deeds charged to an individual soul's account; occas. used of eternal life; ~ huche; (b) a nonmaterial thing greatly valued by its possessor, a prized possession, precious gift;—freq. used of a desirable faculty, endowment, state, etc.; occas. used of the soul or the indwelling Holy Spirit; the ~ of min treuth, ?my reputation for reliability, my good name; (c) a person held dear to someone, one's beloved; specif., Jesus [quots. c1300 & a1450]; God's chosen people [quot. a1382]; also, the finest practitioner of an art [last quot.]; (d) a singular circumstance, marvel; (e) in proverbs and prov. expressions.

(a) A building, repository, vault, etc. in which wealth, precious objects, the resources of a commonwealth, etc. are stored and protected, a treasury, storehouse; also, a treasure chest, strongbox [some quots. could be construed as sense 1.(a)]; (b) in fig. uses: a repository for nonliteral things; ~ of minde, the memory; haven in ~, to have (the heart) in one's keeping, have someone's affections; kepen in ~, preserve or store (sensory impressions) in memory [a few quots. could be construed as sense 2.(a)].

A custodian of a treasury; also in fig. context; ?also, a safekeeper, preserver [last quot.].

As surname.