Brewer's: Topic

This word has wholly changed its original meaning. It now signifies a subject for talk, a theme for discussion or to be written about; but originally “topics” were what we call commonplace books; the “sentences” of Peter Lombard were theological topics. (Greek, topikos, from topos, a place.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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