cap·tion / ˈkapshən/ • n. a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster. ∎  a piece of text appearing on a movie or television screen as part of a movie or broadcast. ∎  Law the heading of a legal document.• v. [tr.] (usu. be captioned) provide (an illustration) with a title or explanation: the drawings were captioned with humorous texts.ORIGIN: late Middle English (in the sense ‘seizing, capture’): from Latin caption-, from capere ‘take, seize.’ Early senses ‘arrest’ and ‘warrant for arrest’ gave rise to ‘statement of where, when, and by whose authority a warrant was issued’ (late 17th cent.): this was usually appended to a legal document, hence the sense ‘heading or appended wording’ (late 18th cent.).

caption (arch.) seizure, arrest XIV; †cavilling objection XVII; (orig. U.S.) heading, title XVIII. — L. captiō, -ōn-, f. capere, capt- take, seize; see HEAVE, -TION.

CAPTION

The standardized heading of a legal instrument, such as a motion or a complaint, which sets forth the names of the parties in controversy, the name of the court, the docket number, and the name of the action.