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Origin and history of topic

topic(n.)

1630s, "a class of considerations from which probable arguments can be drawn," singular form of "Topics" (1560s), the English name of the work by Aristotle on logical and rhetorical generalities. It is from Latin Topica, from Greek Ta Topika, "commonplaces," literally "matters concerning topoi." It is a neuter plural of a noun use of topikos "pertaining to a common place, of a place, local," from topos "place" (see topos).

The meaning "matter treated in speech or writing, subject, theme" is attested by 1720.

also from 1630s

Entries linking to topic

topos(n.)

"traditional literary theme," 1948, from Greek topos, literally "place, region, space," also "subject of a speech," a word of uncertain origin. "The broad semantic range renders etymologizing difficult" [Beekes].

topical(adj.)

1580s, "of or pertaining to a place or a locality; geographically local;" see topic + -al (1). The specific medical sense "applied to a particular part of the body" is from c. 1600. The meaning "of or pertaining to topics of the day" is from 1873.

The earliest use in English was philosophical (late 15c.), of arguments, "pertaining to or proceeding from a topic (category)," thus "derived from a widely believed but unproven assumption," from Medieval Latin topicalis. Related: Topically.

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    Trends of topic

    adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

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    subject
    early 14c., subget, "person under control or dominion of another," especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler; from Old French sogit, suget, subget "a subject person or thing" (12c., Modern French sujet), from noun use of Latin subiectus "lying under, below, near
    issue
    c. 1300, "an exit," from Old French issue "a way out, a going out, exit; final event," from fem. past participle of issir "to go out," from Latin exire "go out, go forth; become public; flow, gush, pour forth" (source also of Italian uscire, Catalan exir), from ex- "out" (see ex-
    matter
    c. 1200, materie, "the subject of a mental act or a course of thought, speech, or expression," from Anglo-French matere, Old French matere "subject, theme, topic; substance, content; character, education" (12c., Modern French matière) and directly from Latin materia "substance fr
    disquisition
    1600, "subject for investigation" (a sense now obsolete), also "systematic search, formal inquiry into some problem or topic...
    zillion
    [column in Oakland Tribune, Dec. 12, 1916, the topic is Hawaiian melons]...
    burden
    "leading idea, main topic," 1640s, a figurative use (on the notion of "subject often repeated") of the earlier sense "refrain...
    advert
    Especially in speaking or writing, "turn to (a topic) abruptly and plainly" (18c.). Related: Adverted; adverting....
    remit
    late 14c., remitten, "to forgive, pardon," from Latin remittere "send back, slacken, let go back, abate," from re- "back" (see re-) + mittere "to send" (see mission). Secondary senses predominate in English. From c. 1400 as "refer for consideration or performance from one person
    merit
    c. 1200, "spiritual credit" (for good works, etc.); c. 1300, "spiritual reward," from Old French merite "wages, pay, reward; thanks; merit, moral worth, that which assures divine pity" (12c.) and directly from Latin meritum "a merit, service, kindness, benefit, favor; worth, valu
    mitre
    mid-14c., "bishop's tall hat," from Old French mitre and directly from Latin mitra "headband, turban," from Greek mitra "headband, turban," earlier a belt or cloth worn under armor about the waist, perhaps from PIE root *mei- "to bind, attach" (source also of Sanskrit mitra- "fri

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