Title

From Nordan Symposia
Jump to navigationJump to search

Lighterstill.jpg

TitlePage.jpg


A title can be a prefix or suffix added to a person's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In somelanguages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name (for example, Graf in German, Cardinal in Catholic usage or clerical titles such as Archbishop or Ter in the Armenian Apostolic Church). Some titles are hereditary.

Definitions

  • 1. a. An inscription placed on or over an object, giving its name or describing it; a legend; sometimes, a placard hung up in a theatre giving the name of the piece, etc. Obs. In earliest use repr. L. titulus, the inscription on the Cross.
b. An inscribed pillar, column, tombstone, or the like. (A literalism of transl.) Obs. rare.
c. A piece of written material introduced into a film or television programme to explain action or represent dialogue; a caption; cf. SUB-TITLE n. 3. Also, a credit title (see CREDIT n. 13d).
  • 2. a. The descriptive heading of each section or subdivision of a book (now only in law-books); the formal heading of a legal document; hence, a part or division of a book, or of a subject (obs.).
  • b. app. Subject, matter. Obs.
  • c. transf. A document; a writing, a letter. Obs.
  • 3. a. The name of a book, a poem, or other (written) composition; an inscription at the beginning of a book, describing or indicating its subject, contents, or nature, and usually also giving the name of the author, compiler, or editor, the name of the publisher, and the place and date of publication; also = TITLE-PAGE. Also, the designation of a picture or statue.
  • b. Bookbinding. The label or panel on the back of a book giving a brief title (binder's title).
  • c. (a) Chiefly in Publishing, a book, a magazine, a newspaper; (b) a gramophone record.
  • 4. A descriptive or distinctive appellation; a name, denomination, style.
  • 5. a. An appellation attaching to an individual or family in virtue of rank, function, office, or attainment, or the possession of or association with certain lands, etc.; esp. an appellation of honour pertaining to a person of high rank; also transf. (colloq.) a person of title (quot. 1900).
  • b. Sport. The championship or supremacy in a contest or competition; the game or contest in which this is decided.
  • 6. That which justifies or substantiates a claim; a ground of right; hence, an alleged or recognized right. Const. with inf., or to, in, of the thing claimed.
  • 7. spec. Law. a. Legal right to the possession of property (esp. real property); the evidence of such right; title-deeds.
b. in title, of a benefice: (Held) as one's proper cure; opposed to in commendam (see COMMENDAM). Obs.
c. An assertion of right; a claim. Obs.
d. A title-deed. Obs. rare.
  • 8. Eccl. A certificate of presentment to a benefice, or a guarantee of support, required (in ordinary cases) by the bishop from a candidate for ordination.
  • 9. Eccl. Each of the principal or parish churches in Rome, the incumbents of which are cardinal priests; a cardinal church (CARDINAL a. 6). In L. titulus. Bingham (Antiq. VII. i. 10) explains the name from the fact that the churches gave a ‘title of cure or denomination’ to the presbyters who were set over them. See Catholic Dict. s.v.
  • 10. Assaying, etc. The expression in carats of the degree of purity of gold (= F. titre).