italic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
  2. noun a branch of the Indo-European languages of which Latin is the chief representative
    Italic language.
  3. noun a typeface with letters slanting upward to the right
  4. adjective characterized by slanting characters
    • italic characters
  5. adjective of or relating to the Italic languages
    • ancient Italic dialects

WordNet

I*tal"ic adjective
Etymology
L. Italicus: cf. F. italique. Cf. Italian.
Definitions
  1. Relating to Italy or to its people.
  2. Applied especially to a kind of type in which the letters do not stand upright, but slope toward the right; -- so called because dedicated to the States of Italy by the inventor, Aldus Manutius, about the year 1500.
I*tal"ic noun
Wordforms
plural Italics
Definitions
  1. (Print.) An Italic letter, character, or type (see Italic, a., 2.); -- often in the plural; as, the Italics are the author's. Italic letters are used to distinguish words for emphasis, importance, antithesis, etc. Also, collectively, Italic letters.

Webster 1913