\I*tal"ic\, a. [L. Italicus: cf. F. italique. Cf.
{Italian}.]
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}.

\I*tal"ic\, 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.