caption

/ˈkæpʃən/

/ˈkæpʃən/

Other forms: captions; captioned; captioning

A caption is a brief description accompanying an illustration. You know the online photo of your baby cousin face-planting into a cake? The description underneath it that says "Hugh's First Birthday" — that's the caption.

The Latin root of caption is capito, which means "seizing" or "holding." What do captions have to do with seizing? Nothing. Centuries ago, when authorities seized someone's property for legal reasons, they presented documents that began with the phrase "certificate of caption." Eventually people began using the word to refer to the beginning of any document. Then they began using it to mean any article or chapter heading. And from chapter headings it was a short hop to picture headings. A long journey for a word whose definition includes the description "brief"!

Definitions of caption

1. noun

   brief description accompanying an illustration
   synonyms: legend

   type of:

   title

   a general or descriptive heading for a section of a written work
2. noun

   translation of foreign dialogue of a movie or TV program; usually displayed at the bottom of the screen
   synonyms: subtitle

   type of:

   interlingual rendition, rendering, translation, version

   a written communication in a second language having the same meaning as the written communication in a first language
3. verb

   provide with a caption, as of a photograph or a drawing
   type of:

   furnish, provide, render, supply

   give something useful or necessary to
4. noun

   taking exception; especially a quibble based on a captious argument
   “a mere caption unworthy of a reply”

   type of:

   exception

   grounds for adverse criticism