Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Relating to, having the nature of, or constituting a title.
  • adjective Existing in name only; nominal.
  • adjective Bearing the title of a church or monastery that is no longer active.
  • adjective Bearing a title.
  • adjective Derived from a title.
  • noun One who holds a title.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of, pertaining to, or having a title, in any sense; existing in or by reason of title; so designated or entitled: as, titular rank, dignity, or rights; titular possession; a titular professor or incumbent of office (that is, one bearing the title, in distinction from an adjunct or a deputy).
  • Existing in or having the title only; being such only in name; so-called; nominal; not actual: as, a titular sovereignty or bishopric; the line of titular kings of Jerusalem.
  • Receiving the name (of), or used by name, as part of a title; giving or taking title. See quotation, and titular church, below.
  • noun A person who holds a title of office, or a right of possession independently of the functions or obligations properly implied by it; in ecclesiastical law, one who may lawfully enjoy a benefice without perfowning its duties.
  • noun One whose name is used as a title; specifically, the patron saint of a church.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Existing in title or name only; nominal; having the title to an office or dignity without discharging its appropriate duties.
  • adjective See under Bishop.
  • noun rare A titulary.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, relating to, being, derived from, or having a title.
  • adjective Existing in name only; nominal.
  • adjective proscribed Named or referred to in the title.
  • noun One who holds a title.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective existing in name only
  • adjective of or pertaining to the title of a work of art
  • adjective of or relating to a legal title to something
  • adjective of or bearing a title signifying status or function
  • adjective of or associated with or bearing a title signifying nobility

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Latin titulus, title.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin titulus ("title").

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