italics

English

Noun

italics pl

1. (typography, plural only) letters in an italic typeface.

   There is no need to put the whole paragraph in italics.

   • 1959 May, G. F. Fiennes, reviewer, “New Reading on Railways: British Railways Today and Tomorrow. By G. Freeman Allen. Ian Allan. 25s.”, in Trains Illustrated, page 271:

     Writing of cyclic diagramming, he speaks of ". . . the practical state of locomotives that pass through any number of engine and maintenance crews' hands in the course of a week's common user working, receiving love from none". The italics are mine.

2. (usually plural but sometimes singular in construction) plural of italic: exaggerated intonation or some similar oral speech device by which one or more words is heavily and usually affectedly emphasized or otherwise given sharp prominence
   • Margaret Long

     […] was yapping, her silly voice fraught with italics.

   • 1906, W. J. Locke, The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne

     a woman who has an irritating way of speaking in italics

Translations

italic — see italic

See also

• Appendix:Italics
• italic

Anagrams

• -istical, laicist