text
text
Pronunciation
/tɛkst/
tɛkst
t: voiceless alveolar stop
ɛ: open-mid front unrounded vowel
kst: a consonant cluster with a voiceless velar stop, a voiceless alveolar fricative, and a voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Noun
Singular: text
Plural: texts
Verb
Base form: text
Present participle: texting
Past participle: texted
Third-person singular present: texts
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A written or printed work, typically a book, article, or other document, consisting of words and symbols that convey information or ideas
Synonyms: document, writing, script, composition, work, publication, volume, tome
Antonyms: speech, audio, video, image, picture
Definition 2: The main body of written or printed matter on a page, as distinct from headings, illustrations, or footnotes.
Synonyms: body, copy, matter
Antonyms: marginalia, annotation, header, footer
Definition 3: A digital message sent from one mobile phone or device to another.
Synonyms: SMS, message, chat
Antonyms: call, email
Verb
Definition: To send a written message from one mobile phone or device to another.
Synonyms: message, SMS, chat
Antonyms: call, email
Examples of Use
Books:
Literary Analysis: "The text of 'Hamlet' is filled with imagery of decay and disease." (Any literary criticism publication)
Academic Writing: "The text provides a comprehensive overview of the historical context." (Any history textbook)
Newspapers:
Reporting: "The president's full text of the speech will be released later today." (The New York Times)
Opinion Piece: "The text of the proposed law is deeply flawed." (The Washington Post)
Online Publications:
Blog Post: "The text of this blog post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License." (Many blogs include this in their footer)
News Article: "The text messages revealed a conspiracy to obstruct justice." (Any online news source)
Entertainment:
Movie Script: "INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY JOHN: (Looking at his phone) Did you get my text?" (Any movie script)
TV Show Dialogue: "I texted you like, a million times!" (Reality TV shows often feature conversations about texting)
Song Lyrics: "I'm sitting here, staring at my phone, waiting for your text." ( countless pop songs)
General Public Discourse:
Everyday Conversation: "I'll text you the address later."
Social Media: "This tweet is too long, I'll have to text you the rest."
Legal Proceedings: "The texts were presented as evidence in court."
10 Famous Quotes Using Text
"A text without a context is a pretext." — Unknown (widely used in biblical studies and literary criticism)
"A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say — the text always speaks anew." — Italo Calvino
"No text is innocent." — Roland Barthes
"The text is a tissue of quotations drawn from the innumerable centres of culture." — Roland Barthes, The Death of the Author
"In every text, there is a silent text behind the words." — George Steiner
"A good text is not one that reveals itself all at once, but one that rewards repeated readings." — Vladimir Nabokov (paraphrased from commentary on literature)
"One does not simply read a text; one interrogates it." — Jacques Derrida (paraphrased from Of Grammatology)
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by — especially when I’m trying to finish a text." — Douglas Adams (humorous paraphrase)
"The text is a mirror — it reflects both the author and the reader." — Umberto Eco (from The Role of the Reader)
"Don’t text and drive." — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (famous public safety slogan)
Etymology
The word "text" has a surprisingly long history, going all the way back to the ancient Romans!
It originally comes from the Latin word "texere", which means "to weave". Imagine a weaver creating a piece of cloth by interlacing threads. The Romans used the word "textus" to describe this woven fabric, but also to refer to the way words were woven together to create something meaningful, like a story or a piece of writing.
Think of it like this: just as threads are woven together to make cloth, words are woven together to make a text.
The word "textus" gradually evolved into the word "text" that we use today. It first appeared in English around the 14th century, and back then it mainly referred to the Bible or other important religious writings. Over time, its meaning expanded to include any written work, and more recently, those digital messages we send on our phones.
So, the next time you send a "text", remember that you're participating in a long tradition of weaving words together to communicate!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Text
Existing Phrases:
"Text message": This is very common, but more a descriptive compound than an idiom.
"The text of the law/agreement": This refers to the literal written content of legal documents.
"Hidden in the text": Meaning something is subtly conveyed within a written work, not explicitly stated.
Idioms with Synonyms:
"Read between the lines": To understand the implied meaning, similar to how we interpret subtext in messages.
"Take it as read": To assume something is true without explicit confirmation, like trusting a text's info.
"Words fail me": Expressing speechlessness, sometimes applicable to receiving a shocking text.
"A picture is worth a thousand words": Contrasting visual communication to text, relevant to how images are sent alongside texts.
Lesser-Known or Original Phrases:
"Texting thumbs": Referring to someone who texts frequently, like "green thumb" for gardeners.
"Lost in the text": Analogous to "lost in a book", being engrossed in a long message thread.
"A text away": Describing someone easily reachable, emphasizing modern connectivity.
"Texting wall": When a conversation abruptly stops, like hitting a "brick wall" in communication.
"To have the last text": Similar to "having the last word", winning an argument via message.
"Texting under the influence": Like drunk-dialing, making unwise texting choices while emotional.
"A text and a miss": When a text doesn't get the desired response, playing on "a hit and a miss".
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of text from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
