Text \Text\ (t[e^]kst), n. [F. texte, L. textus, texture, structure, context, fr. texere, textum, to weave, construct, compose; cf. Gr. te`ktwn 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
6. A book prepared for use in schools or colleges; "his economics textbook is in its tenth edition" [syn: textbook]

Text \text\, v. t

1. To write in large characters, as in text hand. [Obs.] --Beau & Fl