Topic

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: top=ic

CIDE DICTIONARY

Topic, n. [F. topiques, pl., L. topica the title of a work of Aristotle, Gr. topika`, fr. topiko`s of or for place, concerning to`poi, or commonplaces, fr. to`pos a place.].

•  One of the various general forms of argument employed in probable as distinguished from demonstrative reasoning, -- denominated by Aristotle to`poi (literally, places), as being the places or sources from which arguments may be derived, or to which they may be referred; also, a prepared form of argument, applicable to a great variety of cases, with a supply of which the ancient rhetoricians and orators provided themselves; a commonplace of argument or oratory.  [1913 Webster]

  "These topics, or loci, were no other than general ideas applicable to a great many different subjects, which the orator was directed to consult."  [1913 Webster]

  "In this question by [reason] I do not mean a distinct topic, but a transcendent that runs through all topics."  [1913 Webster]
•  An argument or reason.  [1913 Webster]

  "Contumacious persons, who are not to be fixed by any principles, whom no topics can work upon."  [1913 Webster]
•  The subject of any distinct portion of a discourse, or argument, or literary composition; also, the general or main subject of the whole; a matter treated of; a subject, as of conversation or of thought; a matter; a point; a head.  [1913 Webster]
•  An external local application or remedy, as a plaster, a blister, etc.  Wiseman.  [1913 Webster]

Topic, a. 

 Topical.  Drayton. Holland.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Topic, n.
1 a theme for a book, discourse, essay, sermon, etc.
2 the subject of a conversation or argument.

Etymology

L topica f. Gk (ta) topika topics, as title of a treatise by Aristotle f. topos a place, a commonplace

THESAURUS

Topic

action, anagnorisis, angle, architectonics, architecture, argument, atmosphere, background, bone of contention, catastrophe, catechism, characterization, color, complication, continuity, contrivance, cross-interrogatory, cross-question, debating point, demand, denouement, design, development, device, episode, fable, falling action, feeler, gimmick, head, incident, inquiry, interrogation, interrogative, interrogatory, issue, keynote, leader, leading question, line, local color, matter, mood, moot point, motif, motive, movement, mythos, peripeteia, plan, plot, point, point at issue, point in question, problem, proposition, query, question, question at issue, question mark, quodlibet, recognition, rising action, scheme, secondary plot, slant, story, structure, subject, subject matter, subplot, switch, text, thematic development, theme, thesis, tone, trial balloon, twist, vexed question

ROGET THESAURUS

Topic

Topic

N topic, subject of thought, material for thought, food for the mind, mental pabulum, subject, subject matter, matter, theme, noemata, topic, what it is about, thesis, text, business, affair, matter in hand, argument, motion, resolution, head, chapter, case, point, proposition, theorem, field of inquiry, moot point, problem, thought of, uppermost in the mind, in petto, under consideration, in question, in the mind, on foot, on the carpet, on the docket, on the tapis, relative to, topic, subject of thought, material for thought, food for the mind, mental pabulum, subject, subject matter, matter, theme, noemata, topic, what it is about, thesis, text, business, affair, matter in hand, argument, motion, resolution, head, chapter, case, point, proposition, theorem, field of inquiry, moot point, problem, thought of, uppermost in the mind, in petto, under consideration, in question, in the mind, on foot, on the carpet, on the docket, on the tapis, relative to.