Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to a style of type or handwriting: Describes characters or letters that slope to the right, often used for emphasis, titles, or foreign words.
   • Relating to ancient Italic languages: Pertaining to a branch of the Indo-European language family spoken in ancient Italy, including Latin, Oscan, and Umbrian.

2. Noun:

   • A typeface with slanted characters: A style of printing type in which the letters slope to the right.
   • The Italic language group: The branch of Indo-European languages historically spoken on the Italian Peninsula.
   • A style of slanted handwriting: A cursive style of handwriting characterized by letters that slope to the right.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The book title was printed in *italic font.*
  • She wrote her notes in a beautiful *italic script.*
  • Latin is the most well-known *italic language.*

• Noun:

  • Use *italics for the scientific names of species.*
  • The ancient *Italic dialects predate the Roman Empire.*
  • Her elegant *italic was difficult for others to read.*

Advanced Usage

• "to italicize" (verb): To print or write text in italics.

  • You should *italicize the titles of books in your essay.*

• "in italics" (phrase): Text that is set in the italic typeface.

  • The foreign phrase was rendered *in italics.*

Variants and Related Words

• Italics (n, plural): The form most commonly used to refer to the typeface style.
  • The key terms are set in italics.
• Italicize (v): To make text italic.
• Italicization (n): The act or result of italicizing.

Synonyms

• Slanted (adj): Having a sloping direction (general term).
• Oblique (adj): Slanting; not straight up and down (more technical/general).
• Cursive (adj/n): (Of handwriting) with joined letters; can be similar but not necessarily slanted.

Related Phrases

• Roman vs. Italic: A common typographic contrast between upright (roman) and slanted (italic) type styles.
  • The main text is in Roman type, with emphasis added in Italic.

Idioms

(No common idioms are directly formed from the word "italic". Its usage is primarily technical and descriptive.)

Adjective

1. of or relating to the Italic languages
   • ancient Italic dialects
2. characterized by slanting characters
   • italic characters

Noun

1. a typeface with letters slanting upward to the right
2. a branch of the Indo-European languages of which Latin is the chief representative
3. a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right