Forms: see prec. [f. TITLE sb., or perh. a. OF. titler (now titrer), ad. L. titulāre; from the latter directly came the rarer form TITULE.)
I. † 1. trans. To write, set down, or arrange under titles or headings; to make a list of; to set down in writing; to inscribe, record, chronicle. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 9535. Now haf I … Fulfilled þe seven partes of þis boke Pat er titeld byfor, to have in mynde.
c. 1430. Brut, 458. There were many iourneyes done in dyuers partyes of Fraunce and Normandy, which be not titled in this boke.
1459. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), II. 227. The chapell, in the which ar titled of olde tyme the Obitts of the auncetors.
c. 1552. Thomas, Pilgrim (1861), 44. Some of the selfsame commissioners found of their own wives titled among the rest.
2. To furnish with a title; to give a (specified) title to (a book or other literary composition); also, to inscribe the title on (a book or the like); to write the heading or headings to or in (a manuscript book or account). Cf. ENTITLE v. 1.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 351. Helmand seeþ þat Plato usede to title his bookes by names of his maistres.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. i. (Skeat), l. 99. This worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name, I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse.
1570. T. Wilson, trans. Demosthenes (title-p.). His fower Orations titled expressely & by name against king Philip of Macedonie.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 37. They had but small reason to title that weak piece, Judicial Astrology Judicially condemned.
1721. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 600. I wrote to Mr. M’Ewen to pack up eight copies for you, and send to Borrowstounness, bound and titled.
1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., lvi. It was titled ‘Correspondence with Colonel F. Delmour—Private, No. 1.’
1894. R. H. Davis, Eng. Cousins, 167. In the Order of the Day these questions now appear numbered and titled.
† 3. To dedicate (by name); to assign, ascribe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 820. Thise ordred folk ben specially titled to god.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 84. The gold is titled to the Sonne, The mone of Selver hath his part.
1399. Rolls of Parlt., III. 452/1. Reservyng evermore to Hymself that Dignite of his Grace and of his Mercy as it longes to his real Estate, and that no man title that to hym bot atte his owne will.
1584. Peele, Arraignm. Paris, II. ii. And think queen Juno’s name, To whom old shepherds title deeds of fame, Is mighty.
† 4. a. To inscribe as a title. Obs. rare. b. To attach as a label. Obs. rare–1. Cf. TITLE sb. 1.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5640. And þar was grauyn in þos gomes with grekin letteris, And titild in þe tried names of his twelfe princes. [1588: see TITULE v.]
1642. Milton, Apol. Smect., Wks. 1851, III. 251. By the intrapping autority of great names titl’d to false opinions.
† 5. = ENTITLE v. 4. Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 22093 (Cott.). Sun sal þe feind him þis Chese him stede o birth iwise, Þat best es titeld [v.rr. stiglid, stighlid, ordeyned] til his stall.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Offering, ii. Yet one, if good, may title to a number; And single things grow fruitfull by deserts.
II. 6. To designate by a certain name, indicative of relationship, character, office, etc.; to speak of or describe as, term, style, name, call. Cf. ENTITLE v. 2.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur. (1599), 30. I scorne to title her with daughters name.
1610. Bp. Hall, Apol. Brownists, xxx. The presbyters chose one out of their number in euery citie whom they titled their bishop.
c. 1610. Rowlands, Terrible Battell, 43. One builds a house, and titles that his owne, Giues it his name, to keep his name in sound.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 622. That sober Race of Men, whose lives Religious titl’d them the Sons of God.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), I. 399. These his lordship had … titled … ‘Impudent Assertions.’
1827. Pollok, Course T., II. 19. That little orb … was made for man, And titled Earth.
1864. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., vi. (1890), 86. Their sovereign titled himself king of the Franks.
b. To endow or dignify with a title of rank; to speak of by a title of dignity.
1746. [see TITLED].
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 154. He is titled below his merits; it was for an emperor that nature intended him.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., I. 779. How title I the dead, alive once more?
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVI. 362/2. When old Bajee Rao died the British Government refused to title ‘Nana Sahib,’ and decided that the titular dignity had ceased.
