caption
UK: ˈkæp.ʃən | US: ˈkæp.ʃən
n. a short piece of text under a picture, diagram, or illustration that describes or explains it
n. a title or brief explanation appended to a legal document or film
vt. to provide a caption for an image or video
caption = capt<take/seize> + ion<noun suffix>
- capt: From Latin capere ("to take, seize"), preserved in words like capture and captive. In caption, it implies "taking hold" of meaning (e.g., summarizing content).
- ion: A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or result (e.g., action, decision).
Etymology Origin:
The word caption traces back to Latin captionem ("a taking, seizure"), later evolving in Medieval Latin to mean "a heading" (seizing the essence of text). By the 17th century, it entered English as a legal term for "document headings," later expanding to describe explanatory text in visuals. The logic reflects "capturing" meaning concisely.
The photo’s caption explained the historical context.
She captioned the meme with a witty phrase.
The film’s opening caption set the scene.
Legal captions must follow strict formatting rules.
Always read the caption to understand the diagram.