title
/ˈtaɪtəl/
noun
Origin
Latin
titulus — inscription, label, or placard
Overview
Meaning Now
- A name that describes someone's position or job.
- The name of a book, composition, or other artistic work.
- A legal document or evidence of the right to ownership of property.
Literal older meaning
a label or inscription
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
titel
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word evolved from the Latin 'titulus,' which originally referred to a placard or label attached to a slave or property to indicate ownership. This legal sense remains at the core of the modern usage regarding real estate and property deeds.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
titulus
“inscription, label, title”
- Old French
title
“legal claim, inscription”
- Middle English
titel
“legal right, name of a work”
- Modern English
title
“name or legal ownership document”
Connections
Word parts
title
root
name or legal claim
Related across languages
French
titre
title
Spanish
título
title
Explore next
Related to title
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.