Text (?), n. [F. texte, L. textus, texture, structure, context, fr. texere, textum, to weave, construct, compose; cf. Gr. carpenter, Skr. taksh to cut, carve, make. Cf. Context, Mantle, n., Pretext, Tissue, Toil a snare.] 1. A discourse or composition on which a note or commentary is written; the original words of an author, in distinction from a paraphrase, annotation, or commentary.
Chaucer.
2. O. Eng.Law The four Gospels, by way of distinction or eminence. [R.]
3. A verse or passage of Scripture, especially one chosen as the subject of a sermon, or in proof of a doctrine.
How oft, when Paul has served us with a text,
Has Epictetus, Plato, Tully, preached!
Cowper.
4. Hence, anything chosen as the subject of an argument, literary composition, or the like; topic; theme.
5. A style of writing in large characters; text-hand also, a kind of type used in printing; as, German text.
7. Any communication composed of words.
8. A textbook. -->
Text blindness. Physiol. See Word blindness, under Word. -- Text letter, a large or capital letter. [Obs.] -- Text pen, a kind of metallic pen used in engrossing, or in writing text-hand.
© Webster 1913.
Text, v. t. To write in large characters, as in text hand. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
© Webster 1913. | 
