a. (sb.) [f. as TOPIC + -AL.]
1. Of or pertaining to a place or locality; local.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 121. Is it … to be supposed, that the Verticall, Perpendicular, or Topicall stars haue now conspired together to desolate, or oppresse the seuerall regions which they aspect?
1610. Healey, St. Aug. City of God, Vives’ Comm., II. xxiii. (1620), 89. The Topicall gods, that is, the locall gods of such and such places.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Gagg, 44. Particular and topical churches have erred.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 473. Rites or Opinions that are but Temporary or Topical.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. 92. If [the flood] was only topical, affecting some one tract of the globe.
1870. Lowell, Among My Books, Ser. I. (1873), 177. Their truth is not topical and transitory, but of universal acceptation.
b. Med. That belongs or is applied to a particular part of the body.
1608. Topsell, Serpents (1658), 621. First I will speak of such means as are topical, or such as are outwardly applyed.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1688), IV. 503. This … Powder heals at a distance without topical Applications to the place affected.
1733. G. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, I. vii. § 4. 65. Small and Topica! Disorders of the Nervous Kind.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 173. The symptoms … may be divided into topical and general.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 157. It [creasote] is … used as a topical styptic in hæmorrhages.
fig. 1673. O. Walker, Educ. (1677), 98. In Religion lies the universal and never failing remedy of all the evils of the Soul. But many times particular and topical ones are also to be applied.
c. Topical color, coloring: see quot. 1877.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 234. After printing on the topical colour, the goods must be dried at a gentle heat.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Topical coloring, a term used in calico-printing to indicate that the color or mordant is applied to specific portions of the cloth forming the pattern.
† 2. Pertaining to a topic or general maxim; hence, not demonstrative but merely probable.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, iii. 24. Aristotle … with a purpose of crossing Plato … turned to reuiue the former opinion, and with topical places to make it probable.
1624. Bedell, Lett., v. 86. This Argument is … but Topicall and probable.
a. 1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., II. i. 132. It cannot be expected in an Argument of this nature,… that Evidences of Fact can be no more than topical and probable.
1697. trans. Burgersdicius his Logic, II. xv. 65. A Syllogism Dialectical is also … called Topical,… because its Propositions tho’ true, are yet Contingent.
1710. Norris, Chr. Prud., viii. 385. I am now upon the larger and more topical part of my Subject.
3. Of or pertaining to a general heading, a topic or subject of discourse, composition, etc.
1856. Masson, Ess., Milton’s Youth, 40. He passes, by a very slight topical connexion, into an account of himself, his education, his designs, and his relations to the matter in question.
1879. Morley, Burke, vi. 122. Conversation … was … ever taking new turns, branching into topical surprises.
1890. Nature, 2 Jan., 196/2. The writer expects that the topical skeleton furnished by him will be clothed upon by the lessons of the intelligent teacher.
b. Of or pertaining to the topics of the day; containing local or temporary allusions.
1873. Punch, 15 March, 111/1. The popular ‘topical’ song which delights music-hall politicians.
1881. Daily News, 8 Nov., 5/2. A great many ‘topical’ allusions to events of the hour, and rough political hits.
1899. Month, April, 410. A review accustomed to bestow articles on topical subjects as they came up.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 18 Jan., 12/1. M. Combes, whose resignation makes him topical, is a man with few recreations.
† B. as sb. = TOPIC B. 4. Obs. rare–1.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 98. Apply purgative Topicals.
Hence Topicality, the quality of being topical (see 3 b); an instance of this, a topical allusion.
1904. Longm. Mag., Nov., 93. The Beck case gives the subject a curious topicality.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 10 June, 2/2. Fair actresses recite, and Pantomimes Rattle with Fiscal topicalities.
