Title

Title (0. Fr. title, mod. titre, from Lat. titulus), an inscription prefixed to a book or other writing, designating the name by which it is to be known, and in many cases indicating the scope of the book or some idea of the nature of its contents. Further, the term is extended to the descriptive heading or caption to a document, such as a deed or other instrument, or to a bill or act of parliament. Another general meaning is that of an appellation of rank (see TITLES OF HONOUR, and the articles EMPEROR, KING, PRINCE, MAJESTY, HIGHNESS, DUKE, &C.). In law "title" is equivalent to right of ownership. The instruments in writing forming the evidences of the title to land are the title-deeds (see CONVEYANCING; LAND REGISTRATION). In ecclesiastical usage, the word "title" (titulus) are used of certain churches in Rome to which districts were attached, their history being of importance in the evolution of the Roman cardinalate (see CARDINAL). It was also used, as now, for a condition precedent to ordination; in the early Roman Church. an appointment to officiate in a particular church; this was extended gradually from the idea of locality to that of evidence of means of support. In the Church of England the candidate must have' "some certain place where he can exercise his function"; for deacon's orders he must have a nomination to a curacy, and for priest's orders either that or a presentation to a living. A fellowship or chaplaincy at the university of Oxford or Cambridge is also a sufficient "title."