Title, n.
Etymology: [OF. title, F. titre, L. titulus an inscription, label, title, sign, token. Cf. Tilde, Titrate, Titular.]
1. An inscription put over or upon anything as a name by which it is known.
2. The inscription in the beginning of a book, usually containing the subject of the work, the author's and publisher's names, the date, etc.
3. (Bookbindng)
The panel for the name, between the bands of the back of a book.
7 more senses
4. A section or division of a subject, as of a law, a book, specif. (Roman & Canon Laws), a chapter or division of a law book.
5. An appellation of dignity, distinction, or preëminence (hereditary or acquired), given to persons, as duke marquis, honorable, esquire, etc. With his former title greet Macbeth. Shak.
6. A name; an appellation; a designation.
7. (Law) (a) That which constitutes a just cause of exclusive possession; that which is the foundation of ownership of property, real or personal; a right; as, a good title to an estate, or an imperfect title. (b) The instrument which is evidence of a right. (c) (Canon Law) That by which a beneficiary holds a benefice.
8. (Anc. Church Records)
A church to which a priest was ordained, and where he was to reside. Title deeds (Law), the muniments or evidences of ownership; as, the title deeds to an estate.
Syn. -- Epithet; name; appellation; denomination. See epithet, and Name.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Title, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Titled; p. pr. & vb. n. Titling.]
To call by a title; to name; to entitle. Hadrian, having quieted the island, took it for honor to be titled on his coin, "The Restorer of Britain." Milton.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for title; he lists it under name.
Where he writes about it:
Name in the most general sense, signifying the word by which a person or thing is called or known, includes all other words of this group; in this sense every noun is a name; in the more limited sense a name is personal, an appellation is descriptive, a title is official. — from name
In the phrase William the Conqueror, King of England, William is the man's name, which belongs to him personally, independently of any rank or achievement; Conqueror is the appellation which he won by his acquisition of England; King is the title denoting his royal rank. — from name