WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : I*tal"ic
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [L. Italicus: cf. F. italique. Cf. Italian.]
Definition : 1. Relating to Italy or to its people.

2. Applied especially to a kind of type in which the letters do not stand upright, but slope toward the right; -- so called because dedicated to the States of Italy by the inventor, Aldus Manutius, about the year 1500. Italic languages, the group or family of languages of ancient Italy. -- Italic order (Arch.), the composite order. See Composite. -- Italic school, a term given to the Pythagorean and Eleatic philosophers, from the country where their doctrines were first promulgated. -- Italic version. See Itala.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : I*tal"ic
Part of Speech : n.;
Definition : Defn: An Italic letter, character, or type (see Italic, a., 2.); -- often in the plural; as, the Italics are the author's. Italic letters are used to distinguish words for emphasis, importance, antithesis, etc. Also, collectively, Italic letters.

pl. Italics (. (Print.)
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913