themen.

Brit.

/θiːm/, U.S.

/θim/

Forms: α. Middle English–1500s teme, (Middle English teeme, Middle English teem, Middle English–1500s tyme). β. Middle English– theme, (1500s–1600s theame, 1500s–1700s theam).

Etymology: < Old French *teme (not in Godefroy: but compare tesme , with graphic s indicating vowel-length (13th cent. in Godefroy Compl.); also teume , thieume ); in β conformed to Latin thema , < Greek θέμα proposition, < θε- , root of τιθέναι to put, set, place, lay down. In 16–17th cent. commonly spelt theam /θeːm/. Compare antetheme n.

a. The subject of discourse, discussion, conversation, meditation, or composition; a topic.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun]

thingeOE

evenOE

questionc1225

purposec1350

themec1380

mattera1387

reasonc1390

substancea1393

chapter1393

occasion1426

titlec1450

intentc1460

article1531

place1532

scope1549

subject1563

argumenta1568

string1583

matter subject1586

subject matter1587

qu.1608

haunt1622

seat1628

object matter1653

business1655

topic1728

locus1753

sub1779

ground1796

α.

c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 306 Crist..toke þe same word for his teme þat Baptist toke whanne he prechide.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18495 Bot lenthius yald up his teme Bath to ioseph and to nichodeme.

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 358 Þe trwe tenor of his teme he tolde on þis wyse.

β. c1386 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Prol. 5 My theme [teeme, teme, teem, tyme] is alwey oon and euere was Radix malorum est Cupiditas.c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 943 Þe nwe [Iherusalem] þat lyȝt of godez sonde, Þe apostel in apocalyppce in theme con take.1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome iv. f. 44^v Now to my theame againe.a1600 A. Montgomerie Sonn. lxiv. 11 Fy! I refuse sik filthie these or theam.1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης ix. 87 The overworn theme, and stuffing of all his discourses.1708 Brit. Apollo 9–14 Apr. And Love and Pleasure be my Endless Theam [rhyme name].1804 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) III. 81 His Highness's notorious treachery,..the theme of all the public dispatches.1868 W. C. Hazlitt in tr. Paris & Vienne Prol. p. xi I undertake this theme..because I have all my life taken pleasure in the reading of romances.1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. vi. 200 A theme of song for men in time to come.

†b. transferred. A subject treated by action (instead of by discourse, etc.); hence, that which is the cause of or for specified action, circumstance, or feeling; matter, subject. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > [noun]

causec1315

occasiona1387

mover?a1450

theme1594

inducement1605

quality1609

rise1641

eductor1794

make-way1894

the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground

achesounc1230

anchesouna1250

reasona1250

groundc1275

matter1340

purposec1350

cause1413

quarrel1476

actiona1500

subject1577

spring of action1583

qualitya1586

inducement1593

place1593

theme1594

instance1597

motive1605

impulsivea1628

justifiera1635

foundation1641

rise1641

plummet1679

mainspring1695

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. ii. 80 See here he comes, and I must plie my theame .

1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 263 Ham. Why, I will fight with him vpon this theame... Quee. O my sonne, what theame? Ham. I loued Ophelia [etc.] .

1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 110 An infallible Theame of endlesse troubles.

1726 J. Swift Cadenus & Vanessa 16 In vain..You form'd this Project in your Brain..Nor shall Vanessa be the Theme To Marriage, thy abortive Scheme.

1806 H. Siddons Maid, Wife, & Widow I. 179 His son grew up to man's estate, and gave him farther theme for uneasiness.

†c. Logic. That which is the subject of thought.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical classification > [noun] > logical concept

theme1620

1620 T. Granger Syntagma Logicum 1 The externall is euery Theme, or matter propounded, whereof a man discourseth, or may discourse by his reason.

1697 tr. F. Burgersdijck Monitio Logica i. ii. 2 A Theme is whatsoever may be propos'd to the Understanding to be known. Themes are either Simple or Composed.

1725 I. Watts Logick i. ii. §1 Every object of our idea is called a theme, whether it be a being or not-being; for not-being may be proposed to our..thoughts, as well as that which has a real being.

d. Linguistics. That part of a sentence which indicates what is being talked about. Cf. rheme n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > syntax or word order > syntactic unit or constituent > [noun] > topic or theme

topic1958

theme1959

1959 J. Firbas in Brno Stud. in Eng. 1 39 Those sentence elements which convey something that is known, or may be inferred, from the verbal or from the situational context..are to be regarded as the communicative basis, as the theme of the sentence. On the other hand, those sentence elements which convey the new piece of information are to be regarded as the communicative nucleus, as the rheme of the sentence.

1966 J. Vachek Linguistic School of Prague ii. 18 ‘Functional’ elements, the most important of which appear to be the theme and the rheme (the first being the basis of the statement, known from the context or situation.)

1966 J. Vachek Linguistic School of Prague v. 89 The theme, is that part of the utterance which refers to a fact or facts already known from the preceding context.

1969 K. H. Wagner Generative Gram. Stud. Old Eng. Lang. i. 48 There is evidence supporting the hypothesis that O.E. is a theme-rheme language. That is to say that unless certain factors intervene the most natural order of the elements of a sentence is that progressing from what is known to what is unknown, or rather from what has already been mentioned to what is newly introduced into discourse.

1977 Language 53 444 Like the article by Cinque, this one gets into the theme/rheme distinction.

†2. spec. The text of a sermon; also, a proposition to be discussed. Obsolete (or merged in sense 1).

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > worship > preaching > [noun] > instance of > text of

theme1362

text1377

α.

1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 86 A Sarmoun he made,..And tolde hem þis teeme [v.r. teme].

1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. viii. 122 Thou mihtest preche whon þe luste, Quoniam literaturam non cognoui mihte be þy Teeme!

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 488/1 Teme, of a sermone, thema.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 281/1 Tyme of a sermonde, thesme.

a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 60/2 He toke for his tyme spuria vitulamina non agent radices altas. That is to say bastard slippes shal neuer take depe roote.

β. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (MS. α) (Rolls) VIII. 151 He took a theme [L. sumpto themate] of holy writt [anon. tr. theme of scripture], and gan to preche.?c1535 L. Cox Arte Rhethorycke (new ed.) sig. Av The theme of Tullyes oracyon or plee for Milo was thys that he had slayne Clodius laufully.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccclxvij The deuines had Themes geuen them to discusse and reason vpon.?1567 Merie Tales Master Skelton sig. Bi^v He dyd take that for hys ante them, the which of late dayes is named a Theme, and sayde: Qui se exaltat [etc.].1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 590 In the ende all woulde be but vanitie, according to Salomons theame, which hee handleth in his Booke of the Preacher.1618 J. Hales Let. in Golden Remains (1659) 41 He took for his Theme the 122. Psalm.

3. An exercise written on a given subject, esp. a school essay; an exercise in translation. Now U.S.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > learning > study > subject or object of study > [noun] > exercises or homework

lesson?c1225

renderc1380

vulgars1520

practicec1541

theme1545

example1562

tax1564

repetition1579

exercise1612

praxis1612

recreation1633

pensum1667

vacation-exercisea1668

version1711

task1737

thesisa1774

dictation1789

challenging1825

holiday task1827

devoir1849

homework1852

vulgus1857

cram-book1858

rep1858

banco1862

prep1866

classwork1867

preparation1875

work card1878

vacation-task1904

society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > essay > [noun] > essay as exercise

theme1545

task1980

1545–7 in Archaeologia 34 41 After none they [form III] have a theme to be made in Laten.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 59 Like a schoolemaister, which doth dictate or rehearse to his schollers some Theame or Epistle.

1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 21 The theam of a Grammar lad.

1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber i. 5 I remember I was once whip'd for my Theme.

1824 in J. Grant Hist. Burgh Schools Scotl. (1876) ii. iv. 154 The Rector dictated an English theme to be translated into Latin.

1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 263 In Juvenal's time Roman schoolboys declaimed upon it in their weekly themes.

1924 P. Marks Plastic Age xxiv. 297 That freshman, Larson, showed me a theme..that Kempton had corrected. It was full of errors that weren't marked, and it was nothing in the world but drip.

1955 E. B. White Let. 1 Apr. (1976) 406 If you are engaged in writing a theme about my works, I think your best bet is to read them.

1976 National Observer (U.S.) 14 Feb. 17/3 In my spare time I go to college and the real reason is that it is here that this small flutter comes alive... Late at night when an English theme, which an hour ago had seemed impossible, starts to jell, I feel it.

4. Music. The principal melody, plainsong, or canto fermo in a contrapuntal piece; hence, any one of the principal melodies or motives in a sonata, symphony, etc.; a subject; also, a simple tune on which variations are constructed.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > theme

theme1655

subject1740

testo1786

thema1786

1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 86 Your plainsong is as it were your theme, and your descant as it were your declamation.]

1655 Campion's Art of composing Musick in Parts in J. Playford Introd. Skill Musick ii. 2 It was usual with them to have a Tenor as a Theam, to which they were compelled to adapt their other parts.

1854 Cherubini's Counterpoint 63 The subject, or theme of the fugue, should neither be too long nor too short.

1866 C. Engel Introd. Study National Music iii. 103 A manifold and clever treatment of the motives of which the theme consists, contributes especially to the oneness and clearness of a musical composition.

5. Philology. The inflectional base or stem of a word, consisting of the ‘root’ with modification or addition; thus in Greek λείπειν and τέμνειν, the roots are λιπ, τεμ, the present themes or stems λειπ-, τεμν-; in τέκνον, the root is τεκ, the theme τεκνο-.Formerly applied to the 1st person singular present indicative of a verb; later identified with root (as in Greek); the modern application began with Curtius.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > morphology > morpheme > [noun] > stem or base

theme1530

thema1615

crude form1805

base1836

stem1851

base form1864

word base1865

kernel1894

stem-form1928

nucleus1932

base word1935

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Introd. 31 The fyrst [conjugation]..hath his thre chefe rotes..his theme, his preterit participle, and his present infynityve ever of many syllables.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Introd. 31 The thyrde [conjugation] hath his theme most commenly in S..as je voys..je prens..je dis.

1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong I call the Theame, speaking to the vnskilfull in the Latine tong, whereby we begin to decline a Verbe.

1615 W. Bedwell Index Assuratarum in tr. Mohammedis Imposturæ sig. O3 The theame or roote, as they call it, from whence it [Koran] is deriued, is..Kara', to reade.

1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. vii. 109 In reducing the Words to their Original or Theme.

1870 F. A. March Compar. Gram. Anglo-Saxon Lang. §60 The variable final letters of a noun are its case-endings, the rest is its theme.

1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. x. 207 In the derivative theme or base.

6. Astrology. The disposition of the heavenly bodies at a particular time, as at the moment of a person's birth. Cf. horoscope n. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the universe > astrology > judicial astrology > horoscope > [noun]

figure1393

horoscopec1400

theme1652

1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 293 Augustus had..such a confidence in this fatidical praesagitian, that he divulged his natalitial Theme.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Theme, among Astrologers, is the Figure they construct when they draw the Horoscope: It represents the State of the Heavens for a certain Point or Moment required, i. e. the Places of the Stars and Planets for that Moment.

1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Theme,..a horoscope in astrology.

1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. Thema cœli, a figure of the heavens.]

7. Ancient History. Each of the twenty-nine provinces into which the Byzantine empire was divided.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > an administrative division of territory > [noun] > in Byzantine Empire

theme1788

1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. xlviii. 13 The Anatolian theme or province.

1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall liii. 464 An accurate survey of the provinces, the themes, as they were then denominated, both of Europe and Asia.

1864 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire iv. 60 Nicephorus demanded the ‘theme’ or province of Rome as the price of compliance.

Phrases

† to lay in theme: to use as a theme; to discuss in a text. Obsolete. N.E.D. (1911) included this phrase as to lay in team at team n., explained as ‘to couple, join together’, but most scholarly editions of the text cited in quot. c1400 now regard this passage as more likely to show theme, perhaps with punning allusion to team.

ΚΠ

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 37 I schal me poruay pacyence and play me with boþe; For in þe tyxte þere þyse two arn in teme layde, Hit arne fettled in on forme, þe forme and þe laste.

Compounds

C1. General attributive.

themebook n.

ΚΠ

1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist i. 50 Father Arnall gave out the theme-books and he said that they were scandalous.

theme-maker n.

ΚΠ

a1661 B. Holyday in tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) To Rdr. Surely thou wilt acknowledge Juvenal to be a poet, but Horace to be some poor theme-maker.

C2.

theme music n. music which recurs in a film, television programme, or the like; also = signature tune n. at signature n. and adj. Compounds 2; cf. theme song n.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > [noun] > theme tune

theme song1929

signature1932

signature tune1932

theme music1957

1957 A. R. Manvell & J. Huntley Technique Film Music 226 Martin and Gaston (1954). ‘Theme Music’... Sound-track recording of the music from the English version of the French film on children's drawings.

1967 Listener 17 Aug. 222/3 Electronic music..is certainly not restricted to the novel presentation of sounds in familiar patterns, like the theme music of Dr Who.

1976 A. Davis Television 136 The commercial was a favourite with viewers and with advertising men. It won awards and its theme music was issued on record.

theme park n. chiefly U.S. an amusement park organized round a unifying idea or group of ideas.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > fairground or amusement park > [noun]

fairground1741

amusement park1890

Luna Park1911

pleasuredrome1917

theme park1960

1960 Amer. Peoples Encycl. Year Bk. 881 While most established parks and kiddielands were profitable, the theme parks, seeking to duplicate Disneyland's success, were often in trouble.

1967 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 335/2 American-type theme parks around the world included Edenlandia Fun Park, Naples, Italy; Prater Fun Park, Vienna; and a new park, Centro de Diversion, opened at Puerto Rico's Isla Verde.

1983 Times 16 Aug. 15/3 The acquisition of a tourist attraction in London and a theme park outside the capital.

theme pub n. (also theme restaurant)

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > drinking place > [noun] > tavern or public house > other types of tavern

soaking club1694

molly-house1728

night house1728

tide-house1764

rathskeller1768

morning-house1781

free public house1793

lust-house1818

gin palace1833

free and easy1842

schooner-house1893

gay bar1947

tasca1957

singles bar1969

pub theatre1971

theme pub1983

brewpub1985

gastropub1996

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating place > [noun] > eating-house or restaurant > other eating-houses

ordinary1590

chop-house1699

porterhouse?1730

steak house1762

beef-house1807

rotisserie1825

fish-shop1826

supper tavern1841

supper house1855

supper room1858

grill-room1883

teetotum1891

grill1896

bar and grill1903

corner-house1912

bistro1922

roadhouse1922

hot doggery1923

rosticceria1930

dinette1940

British Restaurant1941

drive-through1949

drive-up1956

sobaya1958

carvery1962

ouzeri1964

crêperie1967

steak restaurant1970

sushiya1970

steak bar1971

buka1972

kopitiam1979

bukateria1980

churrascaria1981

parrilla1981

Indian1982

theme pub1983

parrillada1984

restobar1992

1983 Times 19 July 17 A growth segment of the pub trade is emerging..theme pubs. Their hall mark is a design concept to create a particularly individual atmosphere (the theme) with varying combinations of restaurant, cocktail bar and normal bar service. Various theme restaurants have emerged in the past five years.

1983 Times 4 Nov. 17/3 Grand Metropolitan's Host Group..is to spend well over £100m over the next three years on converting its outlets to a wide range of theme pubs.

1983 9,000 Words 196/2 Theme restaurants that look like railroad cars or Polynesian villages.

theme song n. (also theme tune) a song or tune which recurs in a musical play, film, or the like; also = signature tune n. at signature n. and adj. Compounds 2; also figurative; cf. theme music n. above.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > [noun] > theme tune

theme song1929

signature1932

signature tune1932

theme music1957

society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > other types of song

roundelaya1475

black sanctus?1533

pastorella1597

orgial1610

balow1613

comic song1718

hunting-song1727

vaudeville1739

apopemptic1753

melologue1820

Orphic1855

wren song1855

air de cour1878

Kunstlied1880

action song1883

come-all-you1887

marching song1894

party song1911

theme song1929

honky-tonker1950

protest song1953

sing-along1959

slow jam1961

talking blues1969

rap1979

1929 ‘His Master's Voice’ New Records Mid- June 13 Theme songs from two great American films that are scheduled for release in the autumn.

1946 A. Koestler Thieves in Night 348 The theme-song of all evolution is the trend towards greater articulateness.

1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four ii. 149 The new tune which was to be the theme-song of Hate Week..had already been composed.

1950 Sport 24 Mar. 15/4 ‘This couldn't happen again!’ should be the theme-tune of Doncaster Rovers' fans.

1977 J. Fleming Every Inch a Lady iii. vi. 141 Nathaniel returned to his theme-song..murder must have a plan, a blue-print.

1983 Listener 21 Apr. 30/3 The furore over the Today theme-tune..perfectly illustrates the BBC attitude.

Derivatives

theme v. (transitive) to furnish with a theme or subject.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > make or present a topic [verb (transitive)]

theme1594

thematize1970

society > faith > worship > preaching > preach [verb (transitive)] > furnish sermon with text(s)

theme1594

1594 R. Southwell St. Peter's Complaint To Rdr. This theames my heavie penne to plaine in prose.

1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper i. 10 [Points] capable to be spread out so as to theame the Preachers speech.

1979 S. Brett Comedian Dies iii. 32 Great Expectations..was a concept restaurant, themed wittily around the works of Dickens.

themed adj. having a theme.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [adjective] > having a theme

subjective1869

subject-oriented1951

themed1963

1963 Observer 29 Sept. 7/4 A themed sequence on summer holidays.

1977 Broadcast 28 Nov. 12/2 There are..possibilities for ethnic themed radio services.

1977 Broadcast 28 Nov. 12/3 He continued the themed service subject.

ˈthemeless adj. without a theme, having no theme.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [adjective]

emptya1225

sleevelessc1450

dumb1531

insensible1538

senseless1579

weetless1579

unsignificant1603

surd1605

matterless1612

unmeaning1632

non-significative1633

brute1642

shelly1648

insignificant1651

insignificative1660

unsignificative1664

unsignifying1665

unsensed1667

meaningless1728

bilka1734

meanless1734

inexpressive1744

unideal1751

unexpressive1755

idealess1793

unsuggestive1797

tenorless1821

themeless1840

nonsensible1851

inarticulate1855

purportless1865

expressionless1871

vacuous1872

contentless1886

unmeaningful1897

1840 J. Galt Demon of Destiny vi. 41 The themeless babble of his idiot child.

ˈthemer n. one who sets or proposes a theme.

ΚΠ

1611 Tarlton's Jests (1866) 224 Such commendations Tarlton got, that hee supt with the bailiffe that night, where my theamer durst not come, although he were sent for.

themester n.

/ˈθiːmstə(r)/ one who labours at a theme (contemptuous).

ΚΠ

1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 105 Where now, base themester?

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	theme
释义	themen. Brit. /θiːm/, U.S. /θim/ Forms: α. Middle English–1500s teme, (Middle English teeme, Middle English teem, Middle English–1500s tyme). β. Middle English– theme, (1500s–1600s theame, 1500s–1700s theam). Etymology: < Old French teme (not in Godefroy: but compare tesme* , with graphic s indicating vowel-length (13th cent. in Godefroy Compl.); also teume , thieume ); in β conformed to Latin thema , < Greek θέμα proposition, < θε- , root of τιθέναι to put, set, place, lay down. In 16–17th cent. commonly spelt theam /θeːm/. Compare antetheme n. 1. a. The subject of discourse, discussion, conversation, meditation, or composition; a topic. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun] thingeOE evenOE questionc1225 purposec1350 themec1380 mattera1387 reasonc1390 substancea1393 chapter1393 occasion1426 titlec1450 intentc1460 article1531 place1532 scope1549 subject1563 argumenta1568 string1583 matter subject1586 subject matter1587 qu.1608 haunt1622 seat1628 object matter1653 business1655 topic1728 locus1753 sub1779 ground1796 α. c1380 Eng. Wycliffite Serm. in Sel. Wks. I. 306 Crist..toke þe same word for his teme þat Baptist toke whanne he prechide. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18495 Bot lenthius yald up his teme Bath to ioseph and to nichodeme. c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 358 Þe trwe tenor of his teme he tolde on þis wyse. β. c1386 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Prol. 5 My theme [teeme, teme, teem, tyme] is alwey oon and euere was Radix malorum est Cupiditas.c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 943 Þe nwe [Iherusalem] þat lyȝt of godez sonde, Þe apostel in apocalyppce in theme con take.1570 B. Googe tr. T. Kirchmeyer Popish Kingdome iv. f. 44^v Now to my theame againe.a1600 A. Montgomerie Sonn. lxiv. 11 Fy! I refuse sik filthie these or theam.1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης ix. 87 The overworn theme, and stuffing of all his discourses.1708 Brit. Apollo 9–14 Apr. And Love and Pleasure be my Endless Theam [rhyme name].1804 Duke of Wellington Dispatches (1837) III. 81 His Highness's notorious treachery,..the theme of all the public dispatches.1868 W. C. Hazlitt in tr. Paris & Vienne Prol. p. xi I undertake this theme..because I have all my life taken pleasure in the reading of romances.1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. vi. 200 A theme of song for men in time to come. †b. transferred. A subject treated by action (instead of by discourse, etc.); hence, that which is the cause of or for specified action, circumstance, or feeling; matter, subject. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > [noun] causec1315 occasiona1387 mover?a1450 theme1594 inducement1605 quality1609 rise1641 eductor1794 make-way1894 the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground achesounc1230 anchesouna1250 reasona1250 groundc1275 matter1340 purposec1350 cause1413 quarrel1476 actiona1500 subject1577 spring of action1583 qualitya1586 inducement1593 place1593 theme1594 instance1597 motive1605 impulsivea1628 justifiera1635 foundation1641 rise1641 plummet1679 mainspring1695 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. ii. 80 See here he comes, and I must plie my theame . View more context for this quotation 1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 263 Ham. Why, I will fight with him vpon this theame... Quee. O my sonne, what theame? Ham. I loued Ophelia [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 110 An infallible Theame of endlesse troubles. 1726 J. Swift Cadenus & Vanessa 16 In vain..You form'd this Project in your Brain..Nor shall Vanessa be the Theme To Marriage, thy abortive Scheme. 1806 H. Siddons Maid, Wife, & Widow I. 179 His son grew up to man's estate, and gave him farther theme for uneasiness. †c. Logic. That which is the subject of thought. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical classification > [noun] > logical concept theme1620 1620 T. Granger Syntagma Logicum 1 The externall is euery Theme, or matter propounded, whereof a man discourseth, or may discourse by his reason. 1697 tr. F. Burgersdijck Monitio Logica i. ii. 2 A Theme is whatsoever may be propos'd to the Understanding to be known. Themes are either Simple or Composed. 1725 I. Watts Logick i. ii. §1 Every object of our idea is called a theme, whether it be a being or not-being; for not-being may be proposed to our..thoughts, as well as that which has a real being. d. Linguistics. That part of a sentence which indicates what is being talked about. Cf. rheme n. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > syntax or word order > syntactic unit or constituent > [noun] > topic or theme topic1958 theme1959 1959 J. Firbas in Brno Stud. in Eng. 1 39 Those sentence elements which convey something that is known, or may be inferred, from the verbal or from the situational context..are to be regarded as the communicative basis, as the theme of the sentence. On the other hand, those sentence elements which convey the new piece of information are to be regarded as the communicative nucleus, as the rheme of the sentence. 1966 J. Vachek Linguistic School of Prague ii. 18 ‘Functional’ elements, the most important of which appear to be the theme and the rheme (the first being the basis of the statement, known from the context or situation.) 1966 J. Vachek Linguistic School of Prague v. 89 The theme, is that part of the utterance which refers to a fact or facts already known from the preceding context. 1969 K. H. Wagner Generative Gram. Stud. Old Eng. Lang. i. 48 There is evidence supporting the hypothesis that O.E. is a theme-rheme language. That is to say that unless certain factors intervene the most natural order of the elements of a sentence is that progressing from what is known to what is unknown, or rather from what has already been mentioned to what is newly introduced into discourse. 1977 Language 53 444 Like the article by Cinque, this one gets into the theme/rheme distinction. †2. spec. The text of a sermon; also, a proposition to be discussed. Obsolete (or merged in sense 1). ΘΚΠ society > faith > worship > preaching > [noun] > instance of > text of theme1362 text1377 α. 1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. iii. 86 A Sarmoun he made,..And tolde hem þis teeme [v.r. teme]. 1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. viii. 122 Thou mihtest preche whon þe luste, Quoniam literaturam non cognoui mihte be þy Teeme! c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 488/1 Teme, of a sermone, thema. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 281/1 Tyme of a sermonde, thesme. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 60/2 He toke for his tyme spuria vitulamina non agent radices altas. That is to say bastard slippes shal neuer take depe roote. β. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (MS. α) (Rolls) VIII. 151 He took a theme [L. sumpto themate] of holy writt [anon. tr. theme of scripture], and gan to preche.?c1535 L. Cox Arte Rhethorycke (new ed.) sig. Av The theme of Tullyes oracyon or plee for Milo was thys that he had slayne Clodius laufully.1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ccclxvij The deuines had Themes geuen them to discusse and reason vpon.?1567 Merie Tales Master Skelton sig. Bi^v He dyd take that for hys ante them, the which of late dayes is named a Theme, and sayde: Qui se exaltat [etc.].1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 590 In the ende all woulde be but vanitie, according to Salomons theame, which hee handleth in his Booke of the Preacher.1618 J. Hales Let. in Golden Remains (1659) 41 He took for his Theme the 122. Psalm. 3. An exercise written on a given subject, esp. a school essay; an exercise in translation. Now U.S. ΘΚΠ society > education > learning > study > subject or object of study > [noun] > exercises or homework lesson?c1225 renderc1380 vulgars1520 practicec1541 theme1545 example1562 tax1564 repetition1579 exercise1612 praxis1612 recreation1633 pensum1667 vacation-exercisea1668 version1711 task1737 thesisa1774 dictation1789 challenging1825 holiday task1827 devoir1849 homework1852 vulgus1857 cram-book1858 rep1858 banco1862 prep1866 classwork1867 preparation1875 work card1878 vacation-task1904 society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > essay > [noun] > essay as exercise theme1545 task1980 1545–7 in Archaeologia 34 41 After none they [form III] have a theme to be made in Laten. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 59 Like a schoolemaister, which doth dictate or rehearse to his schollers some Theame or Epistle. 1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 21 The theam of a Grammar lad. 1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber i. 5 I remember I was once whip'd for my Theme. 1824 in J. Grant Hist. Burgh Schools Scotl. (1876) ii. iv. 154 The Rector dictated an English theme to be translated into Latin. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 263 In Juvenal's time Roman schoolboys declaimed upon it in their weekly themes. 1924 P. Marks Plastic Age xxiv. 297 That freshman, Larson, showed me a theme..that Kempton had corrected. It was full of errors that weren't marked, and it was nothing in the world but drip. 1955 E. B. White Let. 1 Apr. (1976) 406 If you are engaged in writing a theme about my works, I think your best bet is to read them. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 14 Feb. 17/3 In my spare time I go to college and the real reason is that it is here that this small flutter comes alive... Late at night when an English theme, which an hour ago had seemed impossible, starts to jell, I feel it. 4. Music. The principal melody, plainsong, or canto fermo in a contrapuntal piece; hence, any one of the principal melodies or motives in a sonata, symphony, etc.; a subject; also, a simple tune on which variations are constructed. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > theme theme1655 subject1740 testo1786 thema1786 1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 86 Your plainsong is as it were your theme, and your descant as it were your declamation.] 1655 Campion's Art of composing Musick in Parts in J. Playford Introd. Skill Musick ii. 2 It was usual with them to have a Tenor as a Theam, to which they were compelled to adapt their other parts. 1854 Cherubini's Counterpoint 63 The subject, or theme of the fugue, should neither be too long nor too short. 1866 C. Engel Introd. Study National Music iii. 103 A manifold and clever treatment of the motives of which the theme consists, contributes especially to the oneness and clearness of a musical composition. 5. Philology. The inflectional base or stem of a word, consisting of the ‘root’ with modification or addition; thus in Greek λείπειν and τέμνειν, the roots are λιπ, τεμ, the present themes or stems λειπ-, τεμν-; in τέκνον, the root is τεκ, the theme τεκνο-.Formerly applied to the 1st person singular present indicative of a verb; later identified with root (as in Greek); the modern application began with Curtius. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > morphology > morpheme > [noun] > stem or base theme1530 thema1615 crude form1805 base1836 stem1851 base form1864 word base1865 kernel1894 stem-form1928 nucleus1932 base word1935 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Introd. 31 The fyrst [conjugation]..hath his thre chefe rotes..his theme, his preterit participle, and his present infynityve ever of many syllables. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement Introd. 31 The thyrde [conjugation] hath his theme most commenly in S..as je voys..je prens..je dis. 1580 C. Hollyband Treasurie French Tong I call the Theame, speaking to the vnskilfull in the Latine tong, whereby we begin to decline a Verbe. 1615 W. Bedwell Index Assuratarum in tr. Mohammedis Imposturæ sig. O3 The theame or roote, as they call it, from whence it [Koran] is deriued, is..Kara', to reade. 1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. vii. 109 In reducing the Words to their Original or Theme. 1870 F. A. March Compar. Gram. Anglo-Saxon Lang. §60 The variable final letters of a noun are its case-endings, the rest is its theme. 1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. x. 207 In the derivative theme or base. 6. Astrology. The disposition of the heavenly bodies at a particular time, as at the moment of a person's birth. Cf. horoscope n. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > the universe > astrology > judicial astrology > horoscope > [noun] figure1393 horoscopec1400 theme1652 1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 293 Augustus had..such a confidence in this fatidical praesagitian, that he divulged his natalitial Theme. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Theme, among Astrologers, is the Figure they construct when they draw the Horoscope: It represents the State of the Heavens for a certain Point or Moment required, i. e. the Places of the Stars and Planets for that Moment. 1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Theme,..a horoscope in astrology. 1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. Thema cœli, a figure of the heavens.] 7. Ancient History. Each of the twenty-nine provinces into which the Byzantine empire was divided. ΘΚΠ society > authority > rule or government > territorial jurisdiction or areas subject to > an administrative division of territory > [noun] > in Byzantine Empire theme1788 1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. xlviii. 13 The Anatolian theme or province. 1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall liii. 464 An accurate survey of the provinces, the themes, as they were then denominated, both of Europe and Asia. 1864 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire iv. 60 Nicephorus demanded the ‘theme’ or province of Rome as the price of compliance. Phrases † to lay in theme: to use as a theme; to discuss in a text. Obsolete. N.E.D. (1911) included this phrase as to lay in team at team n., explained as ‘to couple, join together’, but most scholarly editions of the text cited in quot. c1400 now regard this passage as more likely to show theme, perhaps with punning allusion to team. ΚΠ c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 37 I schal me poruay pacyence and play me with boþe; For in þe tyxte þere þyse two arn in teme layde, Hit arne fettled in on forme, þe forme and þe laste. Compounds C1. General attributive. themebook n. ΚΠ 1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist i. 50 Father Arnall gave out the theme-books and he said that they were scandalous. theme-maker n. ΚΠ a1661 B. Holyday in tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) To Rdr. Surely thou wilt acknowledge Juvenal to be a poet, but Horace to be some poor theme-maker. C2. theme music n. music which recurs in a film, television programme, or the like; also = signature tune n. at signature n. and adj. Compounds 2; cf. theme song n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > [noun] > theme tune theme song1929 signature1932 signature tune1932 theme music1957 1957 A. R. Manvell & J. Huntley Technique Film Music 226 Martin and Gaston (1954). ‘Theme Music’... Sound-track recording of the music from the English version of the French film on children's drawings. 1967 Listener 17 Aug. 222/3 Electronic music..is certainly not restricted to the novel presentation of sounds in familiar patterns, like the theme music of Dr Who. 1976 A. Davis Television 136 The commercial was a favourite with viewers and with advertising men. It won awards and its theme music was issued on record. theme park n. chiefly U.S. an amusement park organized round a unifying idea or group of ideas. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > fairground or amusement park > [noun] fairground1741 amusement park1890 Luna Park1911 pleasuredrome1917 theme park1960 1960 Amer. Peoples Encycl. Year Bk. 881 While most established parks and kiddielands were profitable, the theme parks, seeking to duplicate Disneyland's success, were often in trouble. 1967 Encycl. Brit. Bk. of Year 335/2 American-type theme parks around the world included Edenlandia Fun Park, Naples, Italy; Prater Fun Park, Vienna; and a new park, Centro de Diversion, opened at Puerto Rico's Isla Verde. 1983 Times 16 Aug. 15/3 The acquisition of a tourist attraction in London and a theme park outside the capital. theme pub n. (also theme restaurant) ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > drinking place > [noun] > tavern or public house > other types of tavern soaking club1694 molly-house1728 night house1728 tide-house1764 rathskeller1768 morning-house1781 free public house1793 lust-house1818 gin palace1833 free and easy1842 schooner-house1893 gay bar1947 tasca1957 singles bar1969 pub theatre1971 theme pub1983 brewpub1985 gastropub1996 the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > eating > eating place > [noun] > eating-house or restaurant > other eating-houses ordinary1590 chop-house1699 porterhouse?1730 steak house1762 beef-house1807 rotisserie1825 fish-shop1826 supper tavern1841 supper house1855 supper room1858 grill-room1883 teetotum1891 grill1896 bar and grill1903 corner-house1912 bistro1922 roadhouse1922 hot doggery1923 rosticceria1930 dinette1940 British Restaurant1941 drive-through1949 drive-up1956 sobaya1958 carvery1962 ouzeri1964 crêperie1967 steak restaurant1970 sushiya1970 steak bar1971 buka1972 kopitiam1979 bukateria1980 churrascaria1981 parrilla1981 Indian1982 theme pub1983 parrillada1984 restobar1992 1983 Times 19 July 17 A growth segment of the pub trade is emerging..theme pubs. Their hall mark is a design concept to create a particularly individual atmosphere (the theme) with varying combinations of restaurant, cocktail bar and normal bar service. Various theme restaurants have emerged in the past five years. 1983 Times 4 Nov. 17/3 Grand Metropolitan's Host Group..is to spend well over £100m over the next three years on converting its outlets to a wide range of theme pubs. 1983 9,000 Words 196/2 Theme restaurants that look like railroad cars or Polynesian villages. theme song n. (also theme tune) a song or tune which recurs in a musical play, film, or the like; also = signature tune n. at signature n. and adj. Compounds 2; also figurative; cf. theme music n. above. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > type of piece > [noun] > theme tune theme song1929 signature1932 signature tune1932 theme music1957 society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > other types of song roundelaya1475 black sanctus?1533 pastorella1597 orgial1610 balow1613 comic song1718 hunting-song1727 vaudeville1739 apopemptic1753 melologue1820 Orphic1855 wren song1855 air de cour1878 Kunstlied1880 action song1883 come-all-you1887 marching song1894 party song1911 theme song1929 honky-tonker1950 protest song1953 sing-along1959 slow jam1961 talking blues1969 rap1979 1929 ‘His Master's Voice’ New Records Mid- June 13 Theme songs from two great American films that are scheduled for release in the autumn. 1946 A. Koestler Thieves in Night 348 The theme-song of all evolution is the trend towards greater articulateness. 1949 ‘G. Orwell’ Nineteen Eighty-four ii. 149 The new tune which was to be the theme-song of Hate Week..had already been composed. 1950 Sport 24 Mar. 15/4 ‘This couldn't happen again!’ should be the theme-tune of Doncaster Rovers' fans. 1977 J. Fleming Every Inch a Lady iii. vi. 141 Nathaniel returned to his theme-song..murder must have a plan, a blue-print. 1983 Listener 21 Apr. 30/3 The furore over the Today theme-tune..perfectly illustrates the BBC attitude. Derivatives theme v. (transitive) to furnish with a theme or subject. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > make or present a topic [verb (transitive)] theme1594 thematize1970 society > faith > worship > preaching > preach [verb (transitive)] > furnish sermon with text(s) theme1594 1594 R. Southwell St. Peter's Complaint To Rdr. This theames my heavie penne to plaine in prose. 1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper i. 10 [Points] capable to be spread out so as to theame the Preachers speech. 1979 S. Brett Comedian Dies iii. 32 Great Expectations..was a concept restaurant, themed wittily around the works of Dickens. themed adj. having a theme. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [adjective] > having a theme subjective1869 subject-oriented1951 themed1963 1963 Observer 29 Sept. 7/4 A themed sequence on summer holidays. 1977 Broadcast 28 Nov. 12/2 There are..possibilities for ethnic themed radio services. 1977 Broadcast 28 Nov. 12/3 He continued the themed service subject. ˈthemeless adj. without a theme, having no theme. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > [adjective] emptya1225 sleevelessc1450 dumb1531 insensible1538 senseless1579 weetless1579 unsignificant1603 surd1605 matterless1612 unmeaning1632 non-significative1633 brute1642 shelly1648 insignificant1651 insignificative1660 unsignificative1664 unsignifying1665 unsensed1667 meaningless1728 bilka1734 meanless1734 inexpressive1744 unideal1751 unexpressive1755 idealess1793 unsuggestive1797 tenorless1821 themeless1840 nonsensible1851 inarticulate1855 purportless1865 expressionless1871 vacuous1872 contentless1886 unmeaningful1897 1840 J. Galt Demon of Destiny vi. 41 The themeless babble of his idiot child. ˈthemer n. one who sets or proposes a theme. ΚΠ 1611 Tarlton's Jests (1866) 224 Such commendations Tarlton got, that hee supt with the bailiffe that night, where my theamer durst not come, although he were sent for. themester n. /ˈθiːmstə(r)/ one who labours at a theme (contemptuous). ΚΠ 1843 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 54 105 Where now, base themester? This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1362
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