a. [ L. Italicus: cf. F. italique. Cf. Italian. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Relating to Italy or to its people. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Italics (Print.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A phrase or idiom peculiar to the Italian language; to Italianism. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The use of Italics. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Italicized p. pr. & vb. n. Italicizing ] To print in Italic characters; to underline written letters or words with a single line; as, to Italicize a word; Italicizes too much. [ 1913 Webster ]