[f. TEXT sb.1]
† 1. (See quot.) Obs.
1730. Bailey (folio), Text-Book (in Universities) is a Classick Author written very wide by the Students, to give Room for an Interpretation dictated by the Master, &c. to be inserted in the Interlines.
2. A book used as a standard work for the study of a particular subject; now usually one written specially for this purpose; a manual of instruction in any science or branch of study, esp. a work recognized as an authority (cf. TEXT-WRITER 2).
1779. Mirror, No. 38. The letters of the immortal Earl of Chesterfield, which I intend to use as my text-book on this occasion.
1795. Seward, Anecd., I. 203. Lord Bacon’s Essays … have been the text-book of myriads of Essay-Writers.
1837. Sir F. Palgrave, Merch. & Friar, Ded. (1844), 9. Andrew Horne, the author of our ancient legal text-book, the Mirror of Justices.
a. 1855. Mansfield, Salts, Pref. (1865), 32. The current vocabulary of the chemical text-books.
1894. H. Drummond, Ascent of Man, 10. In almost every department [of science] the text-books of ten years ago are obsolete to-day.
3. A book containing a selection of Scripture texts, arranged for daily use or easy reference.
1861. (title) The Scripture Text Book and Treasury.
1877. Bagster’s Catal., 50. The Autograph Text Book; Containing a Text of Scripture, and a Verse of Poetry … under every Day in the year.
4. A book containing the libretto of a musical play or opera.
1891. in Cent. Dict.
