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topic

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Topic  \Top"ic\,  n.  [F.  topiques  pl.,  L.  topica  the  title  of  a 
  work  of  Aristotle,  Gr  topika`,  fr  topiko`s  of  or  for  place 
  concerning  to`poi,  or  commonplaces,  fr  to`pos  a  place.] 
  a  One  of  the  various  general  forms  of  argument  employed  in 
  probable  as  distinguished  from  demonstrative  reasoning, 
  --  denominated  by  Aristotle  to`poi  (literally,  places), 
  as  being  the  places  or  sources  from  which  arguments  may 
  be  derived,  or  to  which  they  may  be  referred;  also  a 
  prepared  form  of  argument,  applicable  to  a  great  variety 
  of  cases,  with  a  supply  of  which  the  ancient  rhetoricians 
  and  orators  provided  themselves;  a  commonplace  of 
  argument  or  oratory. 
  b  pl  A  treatise  on  forms  of  argument;  a  system  or  scheme 
  of  forms  or  commonplaces  of  argument  or  oratory;  as  the 
  Topics  of  Aristotle. 
 
  These  topics,  or  loci,  were  no  other  than  general 
  ideas  applicable  to  a  great  many  different 
  subjects,  which  the  orator  was  directed  to  consult. 
  --Blair. 
 
  In  this  question  by  [reason]  I  do  not  mean  a 
  distinct  topic,  but  a  transcendent  that  runs 
  through  all  topics.  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  2.  An  argument  or  reason.  [Obs.] 
 
  Contumacious  persons,  who  are  not  to  be  fixed  by  any 
  principles,  whom  no  topics  can  work  upon  --Bp. 
  Wilkins. 
 
  3.  The  subject  of  any  distinct  portion  of  a  discourse,  or 
  argument,  or  literary  composition;  also  the  general  or 
  main  subject  of  the  whole;  a  matter  treated  of  a  subject, 
  as  of  conversation  or  of  thought;  a  matter;  a  point;  a 
  head. 
 
  4.  (Med.)  An  external  local  application  or  remedy,  as  a 
  plaster,  a  blister,  etc  [Obsoles.]  --Wiseman. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Topic  \Top"ic\,  a. 
  Topical.  --Drayton.  Holland. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  topic 
  n  1:  the  subject  matter  of  a  conversation  or  discussion;  "he 
  didn't  want  to  discuss  that  subject";  "it  was  a  very 
  sensitive  topic";  "his  letters  were  always  on  the  theme 
  of  love"  [syn:  {subject},  {theme}] 
  2:  some  situation  or  event  that  is  thought  about  "he  kept 
  drifting  off  the  topic";  "he  had  been  thinking  about  the 
  subject  for  several  years";  "it  is  a  matter  for  the 
  police"  [syn:  {subject},  {issue},  {matter}]




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