What does "theme" mean?

Theme: Discourse on a certain subject. Then ran repentance and rehearsed his theme. Piers Plowman. It was the subject of my theme. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A composition or essay required of a pupil. Locke.
  2. 3.(Gram.) A noun or verb, not modified by inflections; also, that part of a noun or verb which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) in declension or conjugation; stem.
  3. 4.That by means of which a thing is done; means; instrument. [Obs.] Swift.
  4. 5.(Mus.) The leading subject of a composition or a movement.

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