text´less

text «tehkst», noun.

1. the main body of reading matter in a book, as distinct from the notes, supplements, and indices: »

This history book contains 300 pages of text and about 50 pages of maps, pictures, notes, explanations, and questions for study.

2. the original words of a writer, especially a work in the original language, as distinct from a translation or rendering. A text is often changed here and there when it is copied.

3. a) any one of the various wordings of a poem, play, or the like. b) the wording adopted by an editor as (in his opinion) most nearly representing an author's original work. c) a book or edition containing this.

4. a short passage from the Bible, used as the subject of a sermon or as proof of some belief: »

The minister preached on the text “Blessed are the merciful.”

5. Figurative. a topic; subject: »

Town improvement was the speaker's text.

6. = textbook. (Cf. ↑textbook)

7. a) the letter of Scripture. b) the Scriptures themselves. c) a reading of the Scriptures or a wording of a Scriptural passage taken as correct and authoritative.

8. = text hand. (Cf. ↑text hand)

╂[< Middle French texte < Old French, learned borrowing from Medieval Latin textus the Scriptures; an authority; a treatise (in Late Latin, written account, content, characters) < Latin textus, -ūs style or texture of a work; (originally) a thing woven < texere to weave]

–text´less, adjective.