titularn.adj.
/ˈtɪtʃᵿlə/, /ˈtɪtjᵿlə/, U.S. /ˈtɪtʃ(ə)lər/ A. n.† 2.
1.
a. Originally Scottish. A person who holds a title to an office, benefice, or possession, irrespective of the functions, duties, or rights attaching to it; spec. a cleric who bears a title (title n. 6) whether or not he performs the duties; esp. = titular bishop n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > [noun] > one who holds a title
titular1540
titulary?1608
society > authority > office > holder of office > [noun] > one holding title to office
titular1540
1540 in D. H. Fleming Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1921) II. 511/1 George Hay..persoun and titular of the said personage.
1573 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) A1573/1/4 That all archebischoppis, bischoppis, superintendentis, possessouris or titularis of prelattis be callit and convenit for this effect.
1620 N. Brent tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Councel of Trent vi. 560 The Titular of Philadelphia, though a Dutch-man, said, that to deny it..was dangerous, and pernicious to grant it.
1682 Heraclitus Ridens 2 May 1/2 The whiffling Titular of Nova Scotia pretends to say something against our Veracity.
1706 H. Curson New Descr. World 235 Over these [Seminaries] in every Country is a Grand Prior, and one Titular for England.
1736 tr. P. Sarpi Treat. Eccl. Benefices xiv. 45 Those who had Titles were from hence supply'd with Curates for small Salaries, which afforded the Titulars a convenient Leisure to follow other Business.
1826 R. Southey Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ 204 The candid and urbane Titular says that the poet ought to be dragged down to the solid ground of authentic documents.
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 31 Dec. 4/1 The small advocate who has become the titular of a portfolio.
1970 Afr. Stud. Rev. 13 146 In 1518 he was promoted to the rank of Titular of the Diocese of Utica.
2004 J.–P. Pham Heirs of Fisherman 319 The second-ranking official of a dicastery, or office, who enjoys delegated full power to act for the titular of the office in the exercise of the authority of the office.
b. Scots Law. A layman who or (occasionally) institution which became possessed of the title to the tithes of an ecclesiastical benefice after the Reformation. Also more fully titular of the teinds (or tithes), titular of erection. Cf. Lord of Erection n. at lord n. and int. Phrases 4d. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > possessor > [noun] > owner of ecclesiastical benefice
titular1613
1613 Earl of Wigtown Let. 6 Oct. in W. Hunter Biggar & House of Fleming (1867) xxv. 550 Purchessing the Titular's consent to the samen did stand me at no less rate than ten thousand poundis Scottis.
1686 G. Mackenzie Observ. Acts Parl. 308 The burden of augmentation of Stipends..doth only ly upon the Lords; and Titulars of Erection,..as the case is not altered in relation to Benefic'd persons.
1731 A. Bayne Notes for Students Munic. Law 14 Benefices being erected into temporal Lordships, after the Reformation, produced Titulars of Erection.
1799 J. Robertson Gen. View Agric. Perth 398 Every land-holder may buy up the tiends affecting his estate at a specific price from the titular, who now holds them.
1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. at Teinds At the Reformation, the King..created the monasteries and priories into temporal lordships, the grantees to which were styled Lords of Erection, or Titulars of the Tithes.
1845 J. R. McCulloch Treat. Taxation ii. iv. 185 The tithes in possession of the titulars or lay impropriators were more rigorously exacted than they had ever been by the clergy.
1894 J. Russell Reminisc. Yarrow ix. 219 The Deans of the Chapel Royal, under the Crown, are the titulars of the tiends.
1927 Trans. Glasgow Archaeol. Soc. 8 40 The University..is still titular of the Govan teinds.
2009 Past & Present 205 190 The rights of the teinds had mostly passed to nobles—‘titulars’ of teinds, as they were called—who had acquired church lands.
a. A person who bears a title of rank; a titled person. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [noun] > person of
proudOE
higha1200
estate1399
honourablea1450
statec1449
dignitya1525
high and mighty1576
palasinc1580
titular1605
sublimity1610
dignitary1672
person of condition1673
figure1692
title1817
titulary1824
Hon.1836
high-up1882
high-ranker1899
1605 Relacion Entrance Admiral of Eng. into Valladolid (P.R.O.: SP 94/11) f. 79 The rest of the Consell of warr and many other Titulars and caualiers.
1757 Herald 3 Nov. 47 No titular among them will accept..an employment beneath that of ambassador.
1829 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. 2nd Ser. II. vii. 267 [Ld. Peterborough] All titulars else must be produced by others; a knight by a knight, a peer by a king, while a gentleman is self-existent.
b. In humorous or ironic use: a person who is known by a particular title or name. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > [noun] > one who has a name
titular1824
1824 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. II. ii. 26 Gaming is the vice of those nations..which unite the worst qualities of both conditions [i.e. the barbarous and the civilized]; as for example, the rags and lace of Naples, its lazaroni and other titulars.
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. II. 117/1 He employed a humbler observer, known..by the more ordinary appellation of Spy, though the titular is never gazetted.
3. Roman Catholic Church. A saint, angel, etc., after whom or which a church is named.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun] > one who looks after > protector or patron > divinity, angel, or saint
avowe1297
angel1340
avowrya1387
patrona1387
avourec1450
familiar angelc1450
advocator1483
vower1488
tutelar1603
titular1621
guardian angela1631
tutelary1652
guardian1667
patron saint1703
warden-angel1845
advowee1863
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 496 They now, and the Pagans then, did vse to bestow them [sc. oblations] vpon the Saint and deity Tutelar, and titular of the place.
1696 A. Gavin tr. J. Dubourdieu Hist. Diss. Thebean Legion xvi. 120 The Festivals of Patrons and Titulars of Churches.
1885 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. (ed. 3) Patron and Titular of church, place, &c... The titular is a wider term comprehending the persons of the Trinity, mysteries (e.g. Corpus Christi), and saints; the patron of a church can only be a saint or an angel... The feast of the principal titular or patron is a double of the first class with an octave.
1938 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Antiquaries Ireland 68 65 The founder or titular of Kilsheelan may have been the Sillan who is honoured in the Irish martyrologies under September 28th.
2015 Mitteilungen des Kunsthistorischen Institutes in Florenz 57 25/2 They nominated the feast of St. Nicholas, their church's titular, as the ceremonial occasion to be attended by the town's government.
B. adj.
1. That exists or is such in title or name; holding or bearing a formal title, regardless of whether the powers or functions implied by it are exercised; nominal, esp. as opposed to real or actual.Usually, but not always, with the implication that no powers or functions attach to the title.Often with an adverbial modifier, as merely, only, etc., emphasizing the lack of powers or functions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > substantiality or concreteness > unsubstantiality or abstractness > [adjective] > that exists in name only
titulary1587
titular1591
unreal1605
nominal1610
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > kinds of bishop > [adjective] > without fixed diocese
portative1550
titular1591
utopian1613
1591 G. Fletcher Of Russe Common Wealth x. f. 33v They are but men of a titular dignitie..of no power, authoritie, nor credit.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. xli. 251/2 After hee had enioyed a Titular Soueraigntie only eightie daies.
1686 J. Scott Christian Life: Pt. II II. vii. 560 To convince us that he is not a mere titular Deity.
1739 C. Young Chronologia enucleata 135 Roderic, Titular Monarch..drove the Lenster King out of his Throne.
1778 tr. L.-A. Caraccioli Trav. Reason in Europe xiv. 72 They after all were no more than a Monarch in partibus, or one merely titular.
1827 Morning Post 11 July The eldest son of a Peer has only titular rank.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. viii. 247 Nothing remained of Strongbow's conquests save the shadow of a titular sovereignty.
1907 Q. Rev. Jan. 100 His titular successors never once visited their confiscated diocese.
1967 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 1 July 58/3 Dr. T. C. N. Gibbens..has been appointed titular professor with effect from 1 October.
2004 N.Y. Times 8 Aug. iv. 11/1 Even in the best of times Khartoum holds only titular control.
2. Relating to, consisting of, or denoted by a title of dignity; (of a person) having a title of rank, titled; bearing or conferring the appropriate title.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > [adjective] > having or relating to a title
titular1601
titulary1603
titled1690
1601 Bp. W. Barlow Def. Protestants Relig. Ep. Ded. sig. A2 Ambition, basely yeelding to any compact for titular prefermentes.
a1683 A. Sidney Disc. Govt. (1698) iii. §xxviii. 385 Commoners, who in antiquity and eminency are no way inferior to the chief of the titular Nobility.
a1704 T. Brown Declam. Praise Poverty (rev. ed.) in Wks. (1730) I. 97 A vain pride of birth and titular dignity.
1761 World Displayed XVIII. 167 The Marquisses, Counts, and other titular nobles belonging to the Venetian state.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. vii. 97 So far as concerns official and titular rank [he] was one of the chief of the Czar's subjects.
1876 J. Durand tr. H. Taine Origins Contemp. France ii. i. 100 If..I count the titular nobles I find, among others, 68 almoners or chaplains, 170 gentlemen of the bedchamber or in waiting, [etc.].
1925 P. C. Hsieh Govt. of China iii. 45 The Manchu government..provided special privileges and financial aids for three classes of peoples, Imperial clansmen, Bannermen, and the titular nobles.
1998 J. Barchas Annot. in Lady Bradshaigh's Copy of Clarissa 40 In an apparent attempt to highlight this character's noble birth, Richardson's list of ‘The Principal Characters’..introduces her as ‘Lady Charlotte Harlowe’. This is an incorrect titular distinction to which Lady Bradshaigh rightfully objects.
2014 C. Büschges in J. Duindam & S. Dabringhaus Dynastic Centre & Provinces i. 108 The king confirmed the decision..to allow only members of the titular nobility entry to the chamber.
3.
a. Of or relating to a title or name; of the nature of or constituting a title.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > name or appellation > [adjective]
titulary1586
titular?1605
appellative1607
nominal1620
onomastical1715
onomastic1716
onymatic1860
appellational1882
onomantic1914
?1605 J. Thornborough Ioiefull & Blessed Reuniting Eng. & Scotl. 55 So in this excellent musical concorde of a wel-ordered kingdome, never so smal difference, though it be but titular betweene the severall partes of one common weale, sometimes breedeth hatred.
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Polit. Touch-stone in tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso 421 Upon such a titular occasion as this.
1755 J. Smith Printer's Gram. ix. 218 They set the first line of a Titular Summary all in Capitals.
1887 Leeds Mercury 20 July 3/2 The method of inserting at the foot of the articles a short titular paragraph on the authorities consulted is most commendable.
1906 Four-track News Jan. 25/2 The head [of the Tammany Society]..was styled the grand sachem. This titular custom has survived to the present day.
2015 Mod. Lang. Rev. 110 651 The appearance of a Hill essay called ‘The Exemplary Failure of T. H. Green’ provided a titular template for Stephen T. Glynn.
b. From whom or which a title or name is taken; spec. designating a character in a play, novel, film, etc., from whom the work takes its title. Cf. eponymous adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > [adjective] > relating to that from which name is taken
titulary1625
titularc1645
c1645 W. Atkins Relation of Journey (1994) 274 Wee reach Medina, the titular towne of the greate Duke of Medina.
a1773 A. Butler Lives Saints (1780) V. 175 He [sc. St. Cataldus] is titular saint of the cathedral [in Tarentum].
1801 Monthly Rev. Aug. 400 In the Basilica of St. Laurence..is the sepulchre of the titular saint.
1842 Morning Post 7 Apr. 6/5 ‘Henry de Pomeroy’, the titular hero of the story.., is a young knight.
1938 Stud. Philol. 35 199 She is therefore a perfectly suitable character to play a titular rôle in Spenser's romance of knight-errantry.
1973 Times 2 Nov. 16/1 The incipits, or titular opening phrases, of more than 200 literary works current in Sumer in the early second millennium b.c.
2016 Atlantic Online (Nexis) 27 May In Tim Burton's 2010 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, the titular heroine..was tasked with helping the Mad Hatter..remember how to do his favorite dance.
4. Roman Catholic Church. Designating any of the churches in Rome to which a cardinal priest is assigned. Chiefly in titular church. Cf. titulus n. 1, title n. 7.Very early Christian meeting places in the city of Rome were called tituli, probably because they were known by the name of the individual who possessed the titulus (legal ownership) of them. Later, when this original meaning was no longer remembered, certain prominent churches, many of which were indeed the most ancient in the city, were assigned to cardinals, who took their titles from the dedications of the churches.
ΚΠ
1622 E. Coffin True Rel. Last Sicknes & Death Cardinall Bellarmine 99 (margin) To his first Titular Church.
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) ii. 162 [The church of St. Lawrence] is..one of the fiue Patriarchal Churches, and therfore is not titular of any Cardinal.
1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. v. 95 There are five Patriarchal Churches in Rome, Twenty eight Titular ones, and Eighteen Diaconal ones.
1734 tr. Ceremonies & Relig. Customs Var. Nations II. 159 The Festival of the Saint to whom the titular Church of a Cardinal is dedicated.
1887 Donahoe's Monthly Mag. June 573 Not far from the northern side of the Janiculum..is the titular church of Cardinal James Gibbons,..Santa Maria in Trastavere.
1931 Burlington Mag. Apr. 193/1 Justinian..served in the titular church of the Saints, which had been built by Pope Felix in the Via Sacra.
1969 Vigiliae Christianae 23 271 What we now see below the titular churches is the lower part of the ancient Roman palazzo.
2018 La Croix Internat. (Nexis) 29 June The new Polish cardinal..will be the fifth cardinal to have a titular church within the official boundaries of the Esquiline Quarter.
Compounds
titular abbot n. [after post-classical Latin abbas titularis (1623 or earlier); compare French abbé titulaire (1636)] a person holding the title of abbot from a monastery that no longer exists as a religious community.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > monasticism > religious superior > abbot > [noun] > titular
titular abbot1644
1644 False & Scandalous Remonstr. Rebells of Ireland 66 The Titular Abbot of Mellifont.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 20 He resolved to prosecute his father's revocation,..and to create titular Abbots as Lords of Parliament.
1818 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 298 The Bishop of Norwich sits in the House of Peers not only in right of his barony, but as titular Abbot of Holme.
1977 Church Times 1 July 14/2 Coventry. Benedictine anniversary... The Titular Abbot of Westminster will preach.
2008 Gloucestershire Echo (Nexis) 31 July 11 A titular abbot has been appointed to maintain the connection with the Abbey's Roman Catholic Benedictine founders.
titular bishop n. [after post-classical Latin episcopus titularis (15th cent. or earlier); compare Middle French, French évêque titulaire (mid 16th cent.)] (in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches) an auxiliary bishop whose title is derived from a see no longer in existence.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > kinds of bishop > [noun] > titular
May bishop1565
tulchana1578
titular bishop1597
1597 Declar. Causes moouing Her Maiestie to send Nauie 3 Many of those Irish Rebels of all sortes of professions both tituler Bishops, and other Irish people.
1640 W. Somner Antiq. Canterbury 105 These titular Bishops were frequent with us in those dayes.
1767 A. Bedingfield Short Acct. Life Mary of Holy Cross p. xviii He repeated this Charge..to his Coadjutor and Successor, the Right Reverend Benjamin Petre, titular Bishop of Prusa.
1885 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold Catholic Dict. (ed. 3) 797 His Holiness Leo XIII has..by a recent decision substituted the phrase ‘Titular Bishop’ for ‘Bishop in Partibus Infidelium’.
1999 Catholic Herald 30 July 1/6 Walsall-born Mgr Fitzgerald is a White Father and the Titular Bishop of Nepte.
titular cardinal n. [after Italian cardinale titolare (1635 or earlier); compare post-classical Latin cardinalis titularis (1652 or earlier)] Roman Catholic Church a cardinal priest assigned to one of the titular churches in Rome.
ΚΠ
1664 G. Torriano tr. New Relation of Rome 6 The Churches..and Monasteries which have Titles, or which have the Protection of some Cardinal, acknowledge that Titular Cardinal or Protector for their Judge.
1778 C. Rogers Coll. Prints II. 84 His uncle Gironimo, who was titular Cardinal of St. Peter in vinculis.
1866 F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems p. xxxvii The Church of St. Praxed..was modernized by San Carlo Borromei, its titular cardinal.
1918 Irish Monthly Jan. 41 It was on the ancient church of St. Cecilia, of which he was the titular Cardinal, that he poured out all the treasures of his devotion.
2014 Guardian (Nexis) 23 Feb. Previously, St Alphonsus's titular cardinal had been Anthony Bevilacqua, a former archbishop of Philadelphia who died in 2012.
titular character n. the character in a play, film, etc., from whom the work takes its title; cf. title role n. at title n. Compounds 1c.
ΚΠ
1864 Era 11 Dec. 11/3 A translation..of Goethe's Faust has been brought out at the Teatro Gerbino, Turin, with..Signor Olandrini in the titular character.
1950 J. D. Hart Pop. Bk. xi. 187 Little Lord Fauntleroy moved into adult circles as a book..and as a play... The seven-year-old titular character became the darling of Anglophile grownups.
2014 New Yorker 22 Sept. 32/1 The British music-hall comedian George Leybourne, born in 1842, came to be known as Champagne Charlie, the titular character from his popular song.
titular priest n. [after Italian sacerdote titolare (1639 or earlier)] Roman Catholic Church a cardinal priest assigned to one of the titular churches in Rome; = titular cardinal n.
ΚΠ
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. iii. 67 Pope Cletus did institute five and twenty Titular Priests.
1757 tr. J. G. Keysler Trav. through Germany II. xlix. 129 Lewis, one of the princes of Mirandola, titular priest of St. Silvester.
1854 N. Wiseman Fabiola ii. ii. 141 The cardinals, or titular priests, received instructions about the administration of sacraments..during the persecution.
1949 Burlington Mag. Nov. 312/2 The door-surround..was made between 1476 and 1479 at the time when Giovanni Venerio was titular priest of San Clemente.
2012 Philippines Daily Inquirer (Nexis) 30 Nov. The Vatican announced that Tagle would be the titular priest of the parish church of St. Felix of Cantalice in Rome's Centicello suburb.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1540