TEXTUAL TEXT TEXTILE TEXTURE

I recently looked up the word  ‘textual’ and came upon this entry:

I then copied and pasted the entry to reveal the following:

This pasting revealed a whole load of additional words that are not apparent on the original page. Is this what is meant by subtext?

I rather like the opening paragraph:

BOTTOM headword thingies (variations) BOTTOM headword thingies (inflections) headword: mobile headword: mobile view BOTTOM headword thingies (variations) BOTTOM headword thingies (inflections) Definition header

What is a bottom headword thingy? What variations and inflections? What is a mobile headword or mobile view? What about sense blocks? What are sense block numbers and labels?

The subtext of text does indeed have variations and inflections. In looking at the word ‘text’ we find:

1300-50; Middle English < Medieval Latin textus text, terms, Latin: text, structure, orig., pattern of weaving, texture (of cloth), equivalent to tex (ere) to weave + -tus suffix of v. action

which leads us to ‘textile’ where we find:

1520-30; < Latin textilis woven, textile (noun use of neuter) woven fabric, equivalent to text (us), past participle of texere to weave + -ilis, -ile -ile

and on to ‘texture’ where we find:

1400-50; late Middle English < Latin textūra web, equivalent to text (us) (past participle of texere to weave) + -ūra -ure

Clearly the definition ‘relating to or based on a piece of writing (such as a book or magazine)’ is inadequate.

The sub text revealed by the copy and paste action, following on from the definition:

“usage note snote called also directional cross references link to a page with synonym paragraph link to a page with usage discussion verbal illustrations bc mark inline synonyms definition_text usage note snote called also directional cross references link to a page with synonym paragraph link to a page with usage discussion verbal illustrations”

is an indication that all text is a woven multi-textural multi-layered fabric, and like any artifice has many variations, inflections and directions.

In brief, there is a performance in every text, or some such thingies.

As to the question ‘What made you want to look up textual?” I cannot now remember.