I. ˈtichələ(r) adjective
Etymology: Latin titul us title + English -ar
1.
a. : existing in title or name only : nominal
held titular sovereignty
b. : having the title and usually the honors belonging to an office or dignity without exercising the associated duties, functions, or responsibilities
the titular head of the executive power was the president of the republic — D.W.S.Lidderdale
c. : having powers so limited and circumscribed or functions so few in number or restricted in scope as to resemble one having a title only
titular leader of the Democratic party
2.
a. : bearing a title : holding the title specified or involved
whether our titular officers are running this nation — Samuel Crowther
b. : bearing a title derived from a defunct ecclesiastical jurisdiction (as a monastery or an episcopal see) — see titular abbot , titular bishop
3. : of, associated with, or arising from a title
titular rank
titular honors
4. : of, relating to, of the nature of, or constituting a title
the titular theme of the book — N.M.Lawrence
sponsors two national titular events — W.F.Brown b. 1903
especially : title b
performed well in the titular role
titular hero
5. : conferring a title or name ; specifically : constituting one of a group of Roman Catholic churches in or near Rome from which a cardinal derives his title
II. noun
( -s )
1. or titular of erection or titular of the teinds or titular of the tithes : a layman having as a result of the Reformation title under Scots law to temporalities (as the title and revenues) but not the spiritualities of an ecclesiastical benefice : lord of erection
2. : a person holding a title: as
a.
(1) : one having the title and benefits of an office independently of the functions, duties, or other obligations attached to it
(2) : a person entitled to enjoy an ecclesiastical benefice without performing its duties
b. : the incumbent (as a cardinal) of a Roman Catholic title in or near Rome
3. : the sacred person or thing (as Blessed Sacrament) from which a church derives its title or name — compare patron , patron saint