| 释义 |
▪ I. title, n.|ˈtaɪt(ə)l|
Forms: 1 titul; 4 tytel, -e, 4–5 titel, (5 -ell), tityll, 4–6 titil, -ill, (4 titille), 4–7 tytle, 5 titul, -lle, (tetle), 5–6 tytill, -e, 5–7 tytyl, -el(l, ty-, titile, (6 tetel), 8 titule, 4– title; also 6 tyttel, -yll.
[ME. a. OF. title (12th c. in Godef. Compl.):—L. titulus superscription, title; in mod.F. titre. OE. titul was directly from L., as is the later by-form titule.
The i in OE. and early ME. was prob. short, after L.: see also tittle.]
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.
c950Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xv. 26, & wæs titul (vel tacon vel merca) intinges his on awritten cynig iudea. a1300Cursor M. 16685 Abouen his hefd,..A bord was festen plate, Þar-on was þe titel [Laud tytle] writen, Thoru þe rede o sir pilate. 1382Wyclif Mark xv. 26 And the title of his cause was writun, Jhesus of Nazareth, kyng of Jewis. a1400–50Alexander 5071 Þis titill was of twa tongis tane out & grauen. 1535Coverdale Isa. xix. 19 An aulter..with this title ther by: Vnto the Lorde. 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. iv. iii, Hang up the Title: Our scene is Rhodes. 1611Bible John xix. 20 This title then read many of the Iewes:..and it was written in Hebrewe, and Greeke, and Latine. 1645Evelyn Diary 23 Jan., On the bases of one of whose columns is this odd title: Fl. Eugenius Asellus C.C. Præf. Urbis V.S.I. reparavit.
†b. An inscribed pillar, column, tombstone, or the like. (A literalism of transl.) Obs. rare.
1388Wyclif Gen. xxxv. 14 Iacob reiside a title [gloss. ether memorial] of stoonys [1382 a stonen signe of worship], in the place where ynne God spak to hym. Ibid. 20 Iacob bildide a title [v.r. memorial; 1382 a signe of preysing] on the sepulcre of hir. 1609Bible (Douay) ibid.
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. 13 d).
1905Billboard 21 Oct. 42 All our films come with red titles, and show our trade mark. 1909Moving Picture World 10 July 57 We make film titles, 5 feet for 50 cents in any color desired. 1922[see credit n. 13 d]. 1929I. Montagu tr. Pudovkin's On Film Technique iii. 45 Scene I... A passer-by, coming towards the waggon, pauses... The driver turns to him. Title: ‘Is it far to Nakhabin?’ The pedestrian answers, pointing with his hand. 1958Punch 27 Aug. 285/3, I shall remember [this film] as the first exception I have noticed to the rule that amusingly well-designed titles..mean a good film. 1961G. Millerson Technique Television Production xix. 358 Roll titles give us a continuous, unbroken stream of information. 1964T. Rattigan Heart to Heart in Coll. Plays iii. 498 Cut, sound. Start titles... Cue grams.
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.).
13..Cursor M. 29530 (Cott.) Þir pointes of cursing haf i..scortly samen laid, And þar-for sett in titles sere Þat þou may lightloker þam here. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 329 For to come to cleer and ful knowleche of þat lond, þese tyteles þat folweþ oponeþ þe way... De situ Hiberniæ locali... De ejus quanto et quali [etc.]. 1494Fabyan Chron. iv. lxviii. 46 In the firste Chapitre of the .ix. tytle of his Werke called Summa Antonini. 1581Mulcaster Positions xl. (1887) 228 The fifth title of the fifth booke, De Magistris. 1714Fr. Bk. of Rates 412 His Majesty judged it proper to comprehend all the said Regulations and the Merchandizes therein expressed under one Title. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 62 note, The first twenty-eight titles of the eleventh book of the Theodosian Code are filled with the circumstantial regulations on the important subject of tributes. 1847Wharton Law Lex., Title, a general head, comprising particulars, as in a book.
†b. app. Subject, matter. Obs.
13..Propr. Sanct. (Vernon MS.) in Herrig Archiv LXXXI. 97/18 Whon Petur saih þat disciple Speke to Ihesu of þat title. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 8 Henry of Huntyngton testimons þis title. Þe kyngdom of Westsex, he sais, it was not litelle.
†c. transf. A document; a writing, a letter. Obs.
c1330[see 7 d]. a1400–50Alexander 1044 Þare tuke he tribute þat tyme þe titill recordis. Ibid. 3566 His tulkis of þis titill quen þai þe tenour herd, Þan ware þai sory of þa sawes.
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.
a1340Hampole Psalter cxix. 1 Þe tityll of þese fyfeten psalmys is sange of degres. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 163 Go litel bille withoute title or date. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 29 He bad that the titles of the Bokes should be read and shewed. 1651Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxiii. 200 In titles of Books, the subject is marked, as often as the writer. 1737Bracken Farriery Impr. (1757) II. 137 Bad Books, which are more beholden for their Sale to the Booksellers than to the Author, by reason the first had a better Knack at tossing up a Title. 1863Dickens Lett. (1880) II. 194, I have found a first-rate title for your book. 1891C. Creighton Epidemics in Brit. I. Pref. 5 The title and contents-table of this volume will show sufficiently its scope.
b. Bookbinding. The label or panel on the back of a book giving a brief title (binder's title).
1891in Cent. Dict.
c. (a) Chiefly in Publishing, a book, a magazine, a newspaper; (b) a gramophone record.
1895Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 62/1 Burt's Library of the World's Best Books... This series comprises titles selected from the standard works of the world's literature. 1908Sears, Roebuck Catal. 200 Columbia P Records. Your own selection of subjects, any of the titles shown on the list. 1935A. C. Baugh Hist. Eng. Lang. viii. 246 In England over 20,000 titles in English appeared by 1640, ranging all the way from mere pamphlets to massive folios. 1953J. Mortimer Like Men Betrayed v. 83 I'd never read any titles by Dickens, but we're thinking of bringing out a Victorian Omnibus so I read one. 1958G. Boatfield in P. Gammond Decca Bk. Jazz xxiv. 313 A 1938 session with Pete Brown on alto and flamboyant trumpeter Charlie Shavers produced eight titles. 1977Times 10 Sept. 2/5 The Daily Express..Mr Matthews thought ‘had lost its way’... Mr Matthews is..fairly satisfied with Beaverbrook's other titles, the Sunday Express and Evening Standard. 1979P. Theroux Old Patagonian Express xix. 301, I..introduced myself as the author of the three titles I had seen in the book⁓stores in Tucuman. 1982Times 4 May 15/2 The latest casualty is the IPC romantic weekly for teenage girls, Love Affair... The title is no longer profitable.
4. A descriptive or distinctive appellation; a name, denomination, style.
c1383in Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. (1911) 741 Clerkis moun haue temporal godis bi title of almese. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxci. 227 Thus in euery parte was the realme of Fraunce warredde in the tytell of the kynge of Nauer. 1549Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 76 He was taken and naped in the head wyth the title of an heretique. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 61 b, Ye are farre vnworthy of the name of Christians. Whiche tytle..you doe vsurpe to your selues. 1621Sir G. Chaworth in Kempe Losely MSS. (1836) 444, I will..beseech you to accept well of my service, under y⊇ titles of faythfull and obedyent. 1756C. Lucas Ess. Waters II. 59 Some [are] dignified with the venerable titule of physician. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1862) II. vii. iii. 205 To believe this bird to be the same with that described by Wicquefort, under the title of the Alcatraz. 1840Bp. A. Jolly Sunday Serv. 114 This bears the title of Bethphany or the Manifestation in the house. 1861Paley æschylus (ed. 2) Agam. 946 note, But the title Ζεὺς τέλειος, the god of marriage.., was perhaps a distinct attribute.
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).
1590Spenser F.Q. ii. vii. 43 Every pillour decked was full deare With crownes, and Diademes, and titles vaine, Which mortall Princes wore. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 570 From the death of this young Earle of Warwicke this title lay asleepe. 1613Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. i. 140, I dare not make my selfe so guiltie, To giue vp willingly that Noble Title Your Master wed me to. 1709Steele Tatler No. 73 ⁋9 A gay young Gentleman, who has lately succeeded to a Title and an Estate. 1761Hume Hist. Eng. xxvii. II. 132 Lord Herbert obtained the title of Earl of Worcester. 1837Lockhart Scott vii, Alexander Fraser Tytler, afterwards a Judge of the Court of Session by the title of Lord Woodhouselee. 1900Howells in Scribner's Mag. Sept. 375/2 He [Lowell] was sorry that he could not have me meet some titles who..found pleasure in my books.
b. Sport. The championship or supremacy in a contest or competition; the game or contest in which this is decided.
1922Encycl. Brit. XXXII. 566/1 J. J. McDermott won the [golf] open tournament both in 1911 and 1912. Travers defeated Anderson for the amateur title in 1913. 1930Amer. Speech VI. 121 Title, championship: Al Brown Signed For Title Battle. 1939Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 117/1 Joe Louis reigned as world heavyweight champion and defended his title three times. 1955R. Bannister First Four Minutes vi. 59 To win the 100 and 200 metre titles in the World Student Games. 1971Rand Daily Mail 4 Sept. 3/6 The visit of South African squash players to Hobart to compete in the Australian squash titles. 1973P. Evans Bodyguard Man iv. 33 He goes straight into the Fiorentina first team, in his first year helps to win the League title for his new club.
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.
a1300Cursor M. 20874 (Cott.) His nam es giuen til him o ded, And titel [Trin. titul] of his might o mede. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 291 We haue no trewe title to hem for þorwgh tresoun were þei dampned. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 973 Oure comynge hider,..Had no grounde founded on resoun Nor cause roted on no titel of riȝt. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iii. iii. 144 Vagabondes,..the whiche haue no good tytle for to begge. 1625Burges Pers. Tithes 36 Hee..would manifestly declare..his iust Title to Bedlam. 1718Free-thinker No 12 ⁋7 He can have no farther Title to the Esteem of his Fellow-Subjects. 1822Scott Nigel Introd. Epist., The..evidence..brought forward to prove Sir Philip Francis's title to the Letters of Junius, seemed at first irrefragable. 1827― Surg. Dau. i, All farther title of interference seemed now ended. 1868Gladstone Juv. Mundi Pref. (1869) 11, I have not the same title to expect obedience.
7. spec. Law.
a. Legal right to the possession of property (esp. real property); the evidence of such right; title-deeds.
[1292Britton ii. xvi, Title de fraunc tenement pora hom aver en plusours maneres.] c1420Lydg. Siege Thebes 2005, I shal lette hym,..That he shal not be title of no bond, Reioysse in Thebes half a foot of londe. c1440York Myst. xxxii. 347 What title has þou þer-to? is it þyne awne free? c1460Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. ix. (1885) 130 Off mariages, purchasses, and oþer titles. 1481Cov. Leet Bk. 490 The title to be examyned be ij persones there chosen afore þe lordez. 1552Huloet, Tytle of the eldest chyld in enheritaunce, primogenia. 1583Exch. Rolls Scot. XXI. 575 Andro Murray..demittit and overgaif his heretable rycht and titill of the kyngis park..in the kyngis majesties favouris. 1628Coke On Litt. i. 345 b, Euery right is a title, but euery title is not such a right for which an action lieth. 1672Cowell's Interpr., Title of Entry, is, when one is seised of Land in Fee, makes a Feoffment thereof on condition, and the condition is broken; after which the Feoffor hath title to enter into the Land, and may do so at his pleasure. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. iii. 184 Yet while I assert an hereditary, I by no means intend a jure divino title to the throne. 1832Austin Jurispr. (1879) II. 1011 Properly speaking the Vendor's title merely consists of the fact by which his right was acquired. 1858Ld. St. Leonards Handybk. Prop. Law v. 29 Where difficulties arise in making out a good title, you should not take possession of the estate until every obstacle is removed.
†b. in title, of a benefice: (Held) as one's proper cure; opposed to in commendam (see commendam). Obs.
1579Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 177 Upoun the vacance of ony prelacie the kirkis thairof salbe disponit to qualifiit ministeris in titill. 1658Bramhall Consecr. Bps. viii. 186 It may be objected, that he held all these Bishopricks as a Commendatory, not in Title.
†c. An assertion of right; a claim. Obs.
1534Whitinton Tullyes Offices i. (1540) 17 It may be vnderstande that no warre is iust, except that which after iust tytle demaunded is done, or els it be denounced or proclaymed before. 1685Wood Life 12 Aug. (O.H.S.) III. 157 The King of England hath now an army..raised upon defeat of Monmouth, under pretence to keep him in safety against false titles and fanaticks. 1701Swift Contests Nobles & Com. Wks. 1755 II. i. 40 An eagerness after employments in the state was looked upon by wise men, as the worst title a man could set up.
†d. A title-deed. Obs. rare.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 248 Þei brouht..Þe olde chartres and titles, þat wer in Abbays hand. 1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 140/1 If that man should make a stewes of that house..and shuld go and make away the titles and writings to depriue the maister of his house.
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.
1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 281–3 Þe title þat [ye] take ordres by telleth ȝe ben auaunced;..For he þat toke ȝow ȝowre tytle shuld take ȝow ȝowre wages. 1530Knaresborough Wills (Surtees) I. 26 He shall have his tytle and singynge geyr boughte at the coste of my sayd wyeffe. 1588J. Udall Demonstr. Discipl. (Arb.) 24 The ordination that is made without a title, let it be void. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxx. §9 Euery man lawfully ordained must bring a Bow which hath two strings, a Title of present Right, and another to prouide for future possibilitie or chance. 1720White Monit. Clergy Peterbo. i. 16 If you retain any Curate, to whom you did not give a Title for Orders. 1845Stephen Comm. Laws Eng. (1874) II. 661 By the canon law no person shall be admitted into holy orders without a title. 1860J. Gardner Faiths World s.v., If a bishop ordain any one without sufficient title, he must keep and maintain the person whom he so ordains with all things necessary until he can prefer him to some ecclesiastical living.
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.
c1460Oseney Reg. 111 Guale, By the mercy of god, title of Seynte Marteyne preste cardinall, popis legat. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxx. §9 The Fathers at the first named oratories and houses of prayer titles. 1642Jer. Taylor Episc. §43 [He] appointed twenty-five titles or parishes. 1706tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 16th C. II. v. 95 Formerly the Sacraments were administred only in these Titles (i.e. Churches so called) and those that presided in them were called Cardinals (if we believe Paurinius) because they were the chief and the principal of those that resided upon these Titles. 1833Waddington Hist. Ch. xxiii. 509 Even the Titles of the Cardinals, abandoned by those who derived their dignities from them, were left without roof, or gates, or walls. 1854Card. Wiseman Fabiola (1855) 186 ‘He distributed the titles’; that is, he divided Rome into parishes, to the churches of which he gave the name of ‘title’.
10. Assaying, etc. The expression in carats of the degree of purity of gold (= F. titre).
1873E. Spon Workshop Receipts Ser. i. 364/1 Jewellers solder with gold of a lower title than the article to be soldered. 1879F. Vors Bibelots & Curios 58 Carat..is only an imaginary weight; the whole mass is divided into twenty-four equal parts, and as many as there are of these that are of pure gold constitute the title of the alloy.
11. attrib. and Comb., as title-leaf, title-plate, title-scroll, title-trouble; title-mad adj.; obj. and obj. gen., as title-holder, title-hunter, title-hunting n. and adj., title-licenser, title-registration, title-search, title-searching, title-seeker, title-sifter; title-banner, a banner on which a title is inscribed; title catalogue Librarianship (see quots.); title entry Librarianship, an entry for a book in a library catalogue made under the title (as opp. under the author); title-essay, an essay, usually the first in a volume, giving name to the whole collection; so title-poem, title-story; title fight Boxing, a match held to decide the championship; title-holder, (a) one who holds title-deeds; (b) Sport, the reigning champion in a particular field; title insurance U.S., insurance protecting the owner or mortgagee of real estate against lawsuits arising from defective title; title letter, type, type of a size and kind used in printing titles; title-music, music played during the credits at the beginning of a film or television programme; title-part, -role, the part in a play, etc., from which the title of the piece is taken; title-piece, an essay, piece of music, etc., giving its name to the collection of which it forms part; title-sheet, the first sheet of a book, one page of which bears the title; title song, -track, the song or track giving its name to a long-playing record. See also title-deed, -page.
1880J. Ross Hist. Corea x. 332 The bearer of the *Title-banner advances forward one step.
1876C. A. Cutter in Public Libraries in U.S.A. xxvii. 528 *Title-catalogue, one in which the entries are arranged alphabetically according to some word of the title, especially the first, (a dictionary of titles). 1910A. E. Bostwick Amer. Public Library 175 If they [sc. entries] are arranged alphabetically by the chief word in the title, it is a title catalogue. 1968P. Quigg Theory of Cataloguing vi. 63 The author catalogue is a catalogue with, in the main, authors' names... The entries will, however, usually include..for certain works..title entries. Added entries for significant titles are usually included..so that..the form of the catalogue should be designated as an author/title catalogue.
1875C. A. Cutter in Nation 4 Mar. 151/1 Especially impressed with the usefulness of *title-entries. 1935Library Q. V. 459 He..had obtained permission to change entries in the university library catalog for publications of corporate bodies from title entry to entry under their names. 1969P. S. Dunkin Cataloging U.S.A. iii. 46 So much for author entry, title entry, and arbitrary entry and the heading which introduces each.
1902Daily Chron. 7 Feb. 3/4 ‘Love's Cradle, and Other Papers’. The *title-essay deals with the age of the troubadours.
1951Sport 7 Jan. 14 The forthcoming feather-weight *title fight between champion Ronnie Clayton and veteran Al Phillips. 1973‘S. Harvester’ Corner of Playground i. viii. 71 She went away, walking on her heels like a boxer after thirteen rounds of a title fight.
1904Daily News 27 May 12 Scotland Yard..has got its eye on some of the bogus *title-holders. 1938Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 113/1 Three of the title-holders, Louis (heavy), Lewis (light-heavy), and Armstrong (bantam), are negroes. 1978H. Cooper Great Heavyweights 86 Willie Pastrano, the then world light-heavy titleholder and a boxer of beautiful science.
1797M. Robinson Walsingham II. 203 She was a perpetual *title-hunter.
1893Goldw. Smith Ess. Quest. Day 156 Anybody can guess what titles and *title-hunting in colonial society must beget.
1902C. J. Pidgin Stephen Holton 260 That was a mighty good idea of yours, Mr. Lethbridge—telling me to go to a *title insurance company. 1942Federal Reporter (U.S.) CXXXII. 44 The contention of the appellant is that premiums paid for title insurance are earned when received. 1979Arizona Daily Star 5 Aug. d 2/4 The firm has been a division of First American Title for 20 years, offering title insurance and escrow services nationally.
1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 60 Yea, this mans brow, like to a *Title-leafe, Fore-tels the Nature of a Tragicke Volume. 1936Discovery Dec. 384/2 The booksellers also displayed the title-leaves of new works as advertisements.
1771Luckombe Hist. Print. 225 To those..we will give the name of *Title Letters; considering that [they].. are used in Titles of Books. Ibid. 279 As for Four Lines Pica, and Five Lines Pica, they best become the name of Title Letters.
1673[R. Leigh] Transp. Reh. 26 The gentleman might be advanced to the office of *title-licenser.
1886W. J. Tucker E. Europe 237 The *title-mad and pocket-filled Jewesses.
1977Gramophone Apr. 1555/3 The opening and closing are of great impact (like the *title-music for one of the more dramatic of those films).
1898G. B. Shaw in Sat. Review 5 Feb. 171/2 Miss Irene Vanbrugh, in the *title part..vanquishes it easily and successfully. 1927F. Harris My Life III. xix. 334 ‘Poil de Carotte’, (Carrots!) I think it was, with Madame Nau in the title part.
1927New Republic 12 Oct. 211/1 He has possibly scored some moderate hits: in ‘Manhattan Mary’, ‘Broadway’, ‘The Five Step’.., a curiously constructed sob-song called ‘Memories’, and the *title-piece. 1936in A. Huxley Olive Tree (dust-jacket), This is one of the best collections of essays that Mr. Huxley has ever made. The title-piece is a completely new departure in technique. 1968Roberts & Moore in D. H. Lawrence Phoenix II p. xii, ‘The Gentleman from San Francisco’ appeared as the title-piece of a collection of Bunin's stories.
1762–71H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) III. 107 The *title-plate to a history of Oxford designed by him, and engraved by White in 1674.
1893Dict. Nat. Biog. XXXIII. 440 The *title-poem..is followed by smaller pieces.
1971A. Axelrod et al. Land Transfer & Finance 693 Patton has been a strong proponent of *title registration.
1886Boston (Mass.) Globe 15 Aug., A grand production of ‘The Gladiator’, with that talented young tragedian..in the heroic *title role. 1900Westm. Gaz. 30 July 10/1 Mr. Chatterton revived the play [Byron's ‘Manfred’] (in 1863) with Phelps in the title-rôle.
1864Tennyson Aylmer's F. 656 Heaps of living gold that daily grow, And *title-scrolls and gorgeous heraldries.
1965Amer. Bar Assoc. Jrnl. LI. 1071/1 In the second step the contract is drawn up by the lawyer and he handles the closing, but the *title search is conducted by full-time, salaried employees of the title company. 1980Daily Tel. 16 Jan. 23/3 They will ask you to complete a ‘title search’ on the new property to make sure that all deeds and papers are in order.
1899G. B. Shaw Let. 1 Aug. (1972) II. 95 After much *title-searching, I have resolved to give that play..the ugly but arresting name ‘Captain Brassbound's Conversion’. 1971A. Axelrod et al. Land Transfer & Finance 499 This loss of title searching and examination illustrates the vulnerability of lawyers in private practice to competition from specialized high volume businesses and professions.
1771Luckombe Hist. Print. 392 The Signature of the *Title-sheet, viz. great A;..we put Little a to the first sheet after the Title sheet.
1615J. Stephens Ess. & Charac., Informer, Let him be a *tytle-sifter and he will examine lands as if they had committed high treason.
1961New Musical Express 6 Jan. 4/2 Am I that easy to forget..is the *title song of a soft-sung album by Debbie Reynolds. 1970Melody Maker 21 Feb. 21/3 It's hard to believe that the same man who could write and play the extraordinary title track could also be responsible for ‘Spirits’ and ‘Search’.
1887Lit. World 23 July 229/2 The *title-story, ‘Ivan Ilyitch,’ alone could be pronounced repulsive.
a1619Fletcher Wit without M. i. i, How bravely now I live,..how free from *title-troubles!
▪ II. title, v.|ˈtaɪt(ə)l|
Forms: see prec.
[f. title n., or perh. a. OF. titler (now titrer), ad. L. titulāre; from the latter directly came the rarer form titule.]
I.
†1. trans. To write, set down, or arrange under titles or headings; to make a list of; to set down in writing; to inscribe, record, chronicle. Obs.
1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 9535 Now haf I..Fulfilled þe seven partes of þis boke Þat er titeld byfor, to have in mynde. c1430Brut 458 There were many iourneyes done in dyuers partyes of Fraunce and Normandy, which be not titled in this boke. 1459Test. Ebor. (Surtees) II. 227 The chapell, in the which ar titled of olde tyme the Obitts of the auncetors. c1552Thomas Pilgrim (1861) 44 Some of the selfsame commissioners found of their own wives titled among the rest.
2. To furnish with a title; to give a (specified) title to (a book or other literary composition); also, to inscribe the title on (a book or the like); to write the heading or headings to or in (a manuscript book or account). Cf. entitle v. 1.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 351 Helmand seeþ þat Plato usede to title his bookes by names of his maistres. 1387–8T. Usk Test. Love ii. i. (Skeat) l. 99 This worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name, I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse. 1570T. Wilson tr. Demosthenes (title-p.) His fower Orations titled expressely & by name against king Philip of Macedonie. 1653W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 37 They had but small reason to title that weak piece, Judicial Astrology Judicially condemned. 1721Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 600, I wrote to Mr. M‘Ewen to pack up eight copies for you, and send to Borrowstounness, bound and titled. 1824S. E. Ferrier Inher. lvi, It was titled ‘Correspondence with Colonel F. Delmour — Private, No. 1’. 1894R. H. Davis Eng. Cousins 167 In the Order of the Day these questions now appear numbered and titled.
†3. To dedicate (by name); to assign, ascribe.
c1386Chaucer Pars. T. ⁋820 Thise ordred folk ben specially titled to god. 1390Gower Conf. II. 84 The gold is titled to the Sonne, The mone of Selver hath his part. 1399Rolls of Parlt. III. 452/1 Reservyng evermore to Hymself that Dignite of his Grace and of his Mercy as it longes to his real Estate, and that no man title that to hym bot atte his owne will. 1584Peele Arraignm. Paris ii. ii, And think queen Juno's name, To whom old shepherds title deeds of fame, Is mighty.
†4.
a. To inscribe as a title. Obs. rare.
b. To attach as a label. Obs. rare—1. Cf. title n. 1.
a1400–50Alexander 5640 And þar was grauyn in þos gomes with grekin letteris, And titild in þe tried names of his twelfe princes. [1588: see titule v.] 1642Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. 1851 III. 251 By the intrapping autority of great names titl'd to false opinions.
†5. = entitle v. 4. Obs.
13..Cursor M. 22093 (Cott.) Sua sal þe feind him þis Chese him stede o birth iwise, Þat best es titeld [v.rr. stiglid, stighlid, ordeyned] til his stall. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Offering ii, Yet one, if good, may title to a number; And single things grow fruitfull by deserts.
II.
6. To designate by a certain name, indicative of relationship, character, office, etc.; to speak of or describe as, term, style, name, call. Cf. entitle v. 2.
1590Greene Orl. Fur. (1599) 30, I scorne to title her with daughters name. 1610Bp. Hall Apol. Brownists xxx, The presbyters chose one out of their number in euery citie whom they titled their bishop. c1610Rowlands Terrible Battell 43 One builds a house, and titles that his owne, Giues it his name, to keep his name in sound. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 622 That sober Race of Men, whose lives Religious titl'd them the Sons of God. a1734North Lives (1826) I. 399 These his lordship had..titled..‘Impudent Assertions’. 1827Pollok Course T. ii. 19 That little orb..was made for man, And titled Earth. 1864Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. vi. (1890) 86 Their sovereign titled himself king of the Franks.
b. To endow or dignify with a title of rank; to speak of by a title of dignity.
1746[see titled]. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 154 He is titled below his merits; it was for an emperor that nature intended him. 1868Browning Ring & Bk. i. 779 How title I the dead, alive once more? 1895Outing (U.S.) XXVI. 362/2 When old Bajee Rao died the British Government refused to title ‘Nana Sahib’, and decided that the titular dignity had ceased. |