topic English · revision 4897

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1634|origins=grc τοπικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈtɒp.ɪk/, US /ˈtɑː.pɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the singular of Topics (before 1568), the English name of Aristotle's work on logical and rhetorical commonplaces,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|la|Topica]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|τὰ τοπικά|tr=tà topiká|t=matters concerning commonplaces]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the neuter plural of topikós “of a place, of a commonplace”,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from tópos “place”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[topos]] and [[topical]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A class of considerations from which arguments for debate can be drawn: 1634 in Barnhart, the 1630s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The adjective, of the nature of a commonplace, is from 1581 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “the subject of a speech or piece of writing, a theme” is by 1720, in the writings of Swift.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) An adjective topic meaning local (1610) and, in medicine, applied to a part of the body (1601) is obsolete;^(OED 1989) ''topical'' (1588) took those senses,^(Barnhart 1988) and later meant concerned with current affairs (1873, in Punch).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1568 – ''Topics'', Aristotle's work.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1581 – adjective, of a commonplace.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1634 – a head of argument.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1720 – the subject of a discourse.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[subject]] that people talk or write about.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A subject for a speech, essay or [[discussion]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A section of a theme or outline.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[subtopic]]

+ * [[topical]]

+ * [[topic sentence]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[topos]]

+ * [[topography]]

+ * [[utopia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}