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.
The four Gospels, by way of distinction or eminence. [R.]
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.
Hence, anything chosen as the subject of an argument, literary composition, or the like; topic; theme.
A style of writing in large characters; text-hand also, a kind of type used in printing; as, German text. 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.
To write in large characters, as in text hand. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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