Definition of theme
1a
: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation
guilt and punishment is the theme of the story
b
: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern
the campaign has lacked a theme
2
: a melodic subject of a musical composition or movement
3
: a written exercise : composition
a research theme
4
: stem sense 4
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for theme
The first known use of theme was in the 14th century
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