title English · revision 3420

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 950 (Lindisfarne Gospels)|origins=la titulus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈtaɪ.təl/, US /ˈtaɪ.t̬əl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|title]], partly [[inh|ang|titul|t=superscription]] and partly [[bor|fro|title|t=title or chapter of a book; position; legal permit]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) modern French [[m|fr|titre]] by dissimilation,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) both from [[la|titulus|t=inscription, label, placard, heading; title of honour]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a word of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) It is a doublet of [[tilde]],^(Barnhart 1988) and related to [[tittle]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An inscription on or over an object: Old English ''titul'', about 950, in the ''Lindisfarne Gospels'',^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) originally especially the superscription on Christ's cross;^(Etymonline) Middle English tytyl about 1303, in Mannyng.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline explains the notion as an inscription placed over something to distinguish it.^(Etymonline) The heading of a section of a book is from the 14th century, a sense kept in law books.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The name of a book or poem is from before 1340^(OED 1989) or the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A deed giving the legal right to land is from the early 14th century, hence the right of ownership itself;^(Etymonline) the HTOED dates legal title to 1357.^(HTOED) A claim or justification is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A name showing a person's rank is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) or 1534 for a title prefixed to a name.^(HTOED) Any publication is a ''title'' in the trade by 1895.^(Etymonline) A sports championship is from 1913, in lawn tennis.^(Etymonline) The ''title page'' is from the 1610s, and the ''title role'' from 1852.^(Etymonline) Film titles, written material shown on screen, are from 1905.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 950 – Old English ''titul'', an inscription.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * early 14th century – a deed to property.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1340 – the name of a book.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1357 – legal right.^(HTOED)

+ * 1534 – a title of rank.^(HTOED)

+ * 1610s – ''title page''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1852 – ''title role''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1905 – film titles.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1913 – a championship.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The name of a book, play, film, musical composition or other work; a publication.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A heading, as of a chapter.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A word showing a person's rank, office or status, such as ''Lord'' or ''Dr''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(law)'' The right of ownership of property; a document proving it.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A championship in sport.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(often titles)'' Written text shown on screen in a film, such as credits or subtitles.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give a title to; to [[entitle]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nontitle]]

+ * [[titleholder]]

+ * [[titlist]]

+ * [[entitle]]

+ * [[subtitle]]

+ * [[supertitle]]

+ * [[surtitle]]

+ * [[mistitle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[titular]]

+ * [[tilde]]

+ * [[tittle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}