Also 4 tixte, tyxt(e, 4–5 tixt, 4–6 texte, (4, 7 (9 dial.) tex, 6 texe, 7 texed). [a. F. texte, also ONF. tixte, tiste (12th c. in Godef.), the Scriptures, etc., ad. med.L. textus the Gospel, written character (Du Cange), L. textus (u-stem) style, tissue of a literary work (Quintilian), lit. that which is woven, web, texture, f. text-, ppl. stem of tex-ĕre to weave.]
1. The wording of anything written or printed; the structure formed by the words in their order; the very words, phrases, and sentences as written.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1634. Fyrst telle me þe tyxte of þe tede lettres.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1515. For to telle of þis teuelyng of þis trwe knyȝtez, Hit is the tytelet, token, & tyxt of her werkkez.
c. 1500. Melusine, xii. 45. They delyuered Lo Raymondyn the ground that was gyuen to hym after the texte or tenour of hys lettres.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 65 b. For those wordes…, this is my body, Luther vnderstode barely and symply after the texte of the letter.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. 240. The most of Plato’s Followers … offering all kind of violence to his Text.
1720. Swift, To Stella, 138. Say, Stella, when you copy next, Will you keep strictly to the text?
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., II. liii. 326. Without venturing to propose alterations in the text of the Constitution.
† b. Applied vaguely to an original or authority whose words are quoted. Obs.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 214. It be-tid on a tyme þe text me recordis, Þat þe mode kynge … farne out of toune.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4007. But truly I telle as þe text sais.
c. fig. or in allusive use.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxv. 535. Hayll! texte of trewthe þe trew to taste. Hayll! kyng & sire.
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxxi. 136. Ply Sir … your busie trade, you are besides the Tex.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 23. It is not without the text, to give a short touch on the helps, and advantages of her reign.
d. The wording adopted by an editor as (in his opinion) most nearly representing the author’s original work; a book or edition containing this; also, with qualification, any form in which a writing exists or is current, as a good, bad, corrupt, critical, received text.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 8. 26. Our present Received Text has been a growth—improved from many and various sources.
1845. Graves, Rom. Law, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 770/1. Hänel, the latest editor, has not inserted these seven constitutions in his text.
1870. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), II. App. 658. The text seems very corrupt.
1875. Scrivener, Lect. Text N. Test., 7. The vast importance of preserving a pure text of the sacred writers.
1891. Athenæum, 15 Aug., 219/1. No attempt has been made to settle the text.
2. esp. The very words and sentences as originally written: a. in the original language, as opposed to a translation or rendering; b. in the original form and order, as distinguished from a commentary, marginal or other, or from annotations. Hence, in later use, the body of any treatise, the authoritative or formal part as distinguished from notes, appendices, introduction, and other explanatory or supplementary matter.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 12. Dilige deum & proximum tuum, &c. Þis was þe tixte trewly…, þe glose was gloriousely writen.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. (MS. Gg), 86. The nakede tixt in englis to declare.
1388. Wyclif, Prol., xv. 57. This symple creature hadde myche trauaile,… to studie it [Latin Bible] of the newe, the text with the glose.
a. 1430. 26 Pol. Poems, xx. 1. The tixt of holy writ,… Hit sleeþ, but glose be among.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 406/1. Nowe cummeth Tyndale and … sheweth that the latine texte and the Greke may bee hys excuse and defence.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 179, margin. τί τῷ λογῷ sayth the Greeke text: Quidnam oratione, saith the Latine interpretation.
1700. Dryden, Cymon & Iphig., 18. When his broad Comment makes the Text too plain.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, III. iii. Coke upon Littleton, where the comment is of equal authority with the text.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1837), III. 25. As these accompaniments, or possibly the text are seldom read.
1859. Tennyson, Vivien, 679. And none can read the text, not even I; And none can read the comment but myself.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), IV. 256. There still remains an ambiguity both in the text and in the explanation.
1908. Athenæum, 8 Aug., 147/3. All his references are to Arabic texts.
c. That portion of the contents of a manuscript or printed book, or of a page, which constitutes the original matter, as distinct from the notes or other critical appendages. In first quot. fig.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 333. And alle the wallys with colouris fyne Were peynted, bothe text and glose.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., Annot. I haue … thought it best to set downe in Annotations, such thinges as in the text could not so commodiouslie be handled.
1778. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry (1840), II. xxiii. 304, note. It is not immediately formed from the Troye-boke of Lydgate, as I have suggested in the text.
1848. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. v. § 8 (1876), 48, note. Consequently, as shewn in the text, her labourers suffered.
1859. Tennyson, Vivien, 669. Every marge enclosing in the midst A square of text that looks a little blot.
† 3. spec. The very words and sentences of Holy Scripture; hence, the Scriptures themselves; also, any single book of the Scriptures. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 37. For in þe tyxte, þere þyse two (Poverty and Patience) arn in teme layde.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 129. Ich theologie þe tixt knowe.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 1500. Fast by Doctryne, on that oon syde, As I remembre, sate Holy Texte.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 1 § 10. It shalbe lawfull to everye noble man … to reade … any texte of the Byble … so the same be doone quietlie.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. ii. 7. To heare with reuerence Your exposition on the holy Text.
a. 1668. Davenant, Poems (1672), 329. Since Holy Text bids Faith to comprehend.
b. A copy of the Scriptures, or of a book of the Scriptures; spec. a volume containing the Gospels. Obs. exc. Hist. (See also TEXTUS.)
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 371. Iesus Crist apperede to Patrik, and took hym a staf, and þe text of þe gospel þat beeþ in þe contray in þe erchebisshops ward.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 4431. He bare a boke … Of gospelles … with perle and stanes preciouse Þat text richely semed arayde. Ibid., 6800. Þe text of wangels fell in þe water.
c. 1460. Oseney Regr., 174. Vppon the texte whee sware, both I and my wiffe.
1536. in Antiq. Sarisb. (1771), 201. Textus Evangeliorum. A Text after John, gilt with gold and having precious Stones and the relicks of dyvers saints.
1849. Rock, Ch. Fathers, I. iii. 297. The curious reader has only to look at that fine text, or book of the Gospels, bound in silver parcel-gilt, and jewelled.
1883. W. H. Rich-Jones, Reg. St. Osmund, I. 117, note. The ‘Text,’ also called ‘Evangelarium,’ was a complete copy of the four gospels.
4. A short passage from the Scriptures, esp. one quoted as authoritative, or illustrative of a point of belief or doctrine, as a motto, to point a moral, or esp. as the subject of an exposition or sermon.
In early practice these texts or portions of the holy text were cited in Latin from the Vulgate, connecting this use with 2.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. III. 339. Quod bonum est tenete, treuthe þat texte made! Ibid., XIII. 125. Pieres þe ploughman … no tixte ne taketh to meyntene his cause, But dilige deum and domine, quis habitabit, &c.
1528. Tindale, Wicked Mammon, 45 b. This texte is playner than that it neadeth to be expounded.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 527. The Sixtieth Chapter treateth vpon this text of S. Paule to the Hebrues: We haue an altar, &c.
1657. Heylin, Hist. Ref. (1661), I. II. iv. 38. The Art of opening, or rather of undoing a Text of Scripture (as the phrase is now) was usurped by all.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 46, ¶ 6. A meer Sermon Popgun, repeating and discharging Texts, Proofs, and Applications.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. VIII. 125. The preacher … named and opened his text.
1894. J. T. Fowler, Adamnan, Pref. 10. A discourse for St. Columba’s day on the text Exi de terra tua.
b. A short passage from some book or writer considered as authoritative; a received maxim or axiom; a proverb; an adage; in later use, esp. one used as a copy-book heading Now rare.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 177. He yaf nat of that text [v.rr. tixt, texte] a pulled hen That seith that hunters beth nat hooly men. Ibid., Manciple’s T., 132 [see TEXTUAL 1].
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. ii. 168. Societie (saith the text) is the happinesse of life. Ibid. (1592), Rom. & Jul., IV. i. 22. What must be shall be. Fri. That’s a certaine text.
1862. Sat. Rev., 8 Feb., 156. ‘Recreation is good for mind and body,’ as the worn-out governess writes for a text at the top of her pupil’s copy-book.
c. fig. The theme or subject on which any one speaks; the starting-point of a discussion; a statement on which any one dilates.
1605. Shaks., Lear, IV. ii. 37. No more; the text is foolish.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 18. The grand Text they hold forth upon is the Behaviour of their Lieutenants.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xi. Is it fit for a heretic horse-boy like thee, to handle such a text as the Catholic clergy?
1847. Tennyson, Princess, Prol. 108. Then the Maiden Aunt Took this fair day for text, and from it preach’d An universal culture for the crowd.
1870. J. Baldwin Brown, Eccl. Truth, 249. A fact is a text from another book, also of God’s writing.
5. Short for TEXT-HAND. Also attrib. See also CHURCH-TEXT, GERMAN text. Chapel-text, an elaborated kind of church-text.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 42. Faire as a text B. in a Coppie booke.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, IV. v. (1611), 199. He beareth Gules, three Text Esses, or.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., V. i. There shall be writ in text, Thy bastarding the issues of a prince.
1740. Dyche & Pardon, Text,… sometimes … means a large sort of writing.
1825. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 10. Their names are baith down in round text in the deevils doomsday beuk.
1904. Daily Chron., 23 June, 4/6. Burns wrote a fine, bold hand … as big as Cromwell’s or Bismarck’s—what is called in Scotland ‘half-text.’
6. The words of a song; = TESTO.
1891. in Cent. Dict.
7. attrib. (see also sense 5) and Comb., as text-bill, -copy, -critic, -critical adj., -criticism, -monger, -mongering vbl. sb. and ppl. adj., -motto, -quoter, -quoting ppl. adj., -transmission, -verse; text-blindness, word-blindness; text-cut, -engraving, -picture, an illustration occupying a space in the text of a book; text-divider, a preacher who didactically ‘splits up’ his text; so text-dividing; text-ink, ink used for the text of a manuscript or book; text-title, a half-title, at the beginning of the text of a book. See also TEXT-BOOK, -HAND, -LETTER, etc.
1610. Histrio-m., v. 62. Capt. Sirrah, what set you up there? Bel. *Text-bills for plays.
1909. Cent. Dict. Suppl., *Text-blindness.
1775. Ash, *Textcopy,… a copy in text hand.
1870. Magnússon, trans. Asgrimsson’s Lilja, Introd. 27. Of no aid to the *text-critic of the present edition.
1905. Expositor, July, 22. [The Syriac N. T.] is quite invaluable from a *text-critical point of view.
1908. Q. Rev., July, 70. Some centuries later *text-criticism arose.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 8 March, 2/1. The first number … contains two excellent plates and numerous *text-cuts.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 53. Not by every bungler and ordinary *text-divider. Ibid., 113. They have got … such a peculiar method of *text-dividing.
1894. Daily News, 15 Nov., 6/2. Mr. Sheppard supplies a *text engraving of mad Margaret Nicholson.
1511. in Rel. Ant., I. 318. To make *texte ynke.
1883. W. S. Lilly, in Contemp. Rev., Feb., 228. He is speaking of *textmongers. Ibid. (1884), Anc. Relig. & Mod. Th., 285. St. Augustine … is speaking of *textmongering.
1880. Warren, Book-plates, xi. 122. The *text-motto occurring on Pickheimer’s book-plate.
1905. Daily Chron., 7 July, 3/3. It has nearly twenty full-page plates, and a great many *text pictures.
a. 1837. D. McNicoll, Wks., 94. This *text-quoting vagabond.
1881. H. Bradshaw, in Bibliographer, Dec., 6/2. The *text-title of Tindale’s New Testament of 1534–5, as reproduced by Mr. Fry.
1908. Q. Rev., July, 74. The common accidents of *text-transmission.
