caption

noun

1. a title or explanation for a picture or illustration, especially in a magazine.
2. a heading or title, as of a chapter, article, or page.
3. Movies, Television. the title of a scene, the text of a speech, etc., superimposed on the film and projected onto the screen.
4. Law. the heading of a legal document stating the time, place, etc., of execution or performance.

verb (used with object)

5. to supply a caption or captions for; entitle: to caption a photograph.

noun

1. a title, brief explanation, or comment accompanying an illustration; legend
2. a heading, title, or headline of a chapter, article, etc
3. graphic material, usually containing lettering, used in television presentation
4. another name for subtitle (def. 2)
5. the formal heading of a legal document stating when, where, and on what authority it was taken or made

verb

6. to provide with a caption or captions

n.

late 14c., “taking, seizure,” from Old French capcion “arrest, capture, imprisonment,” or directly from Latin captionem (nominative capito) “a catching, seizing, holding, taking,” noun of action from past participle stem of capere “to take” (see capable).

From 17c. used especially in law, and there via its appearance at the head of legal document involving seizure (“Certificate of caption”, etc.), the word’s sense was extended to “the beginning of any document;” thus “heading of a chapter or section of an article” (1789), and, especially in U.S., “description or title below an illustration” (1919).

v.

by 1901, from caption (n.). Related: Captioned; captioning.