(a) A writing instrument, pen, stylus; also fig.; also, a surgical instrument, probe [quot. ?a1425]; returnen ~ unto (to), turnen ~ to, to change the subject to (sth. else); (b) a piece of written discourse, a narrative, treatise, etc.; the subject matter of such a work, theme; bref of ~, concise; (c) the characteristic rhetorical mode of an author, style; also, excellence of expression, stylistic felicity [quot. a1450(a1338)]; also, a language; frankish (latin) ~; heigh ~, elaborate, ornamented style, language appropriate for a royal or an aristocratic audience; (d) a way of life, manner, demeanor; also, behavior, conduct, etc.; (e) a formal designation or title; also, the appellation defining a person's function or status; (f) an elongated portion of a plant, a stalk; also, a detached shoot of a plant, scion [1st quot.]; (g) a space of time, ?the time required for reading or writing something [cp. (b) above].