Theme (?), n. [OE. teme, OF. teme, F. thème, L. thema, Gr. ?, fr. ? to set, place. See Do, and cf. Thesis.]

1.A subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks; a proposition for discussion or argument; a text.

My theme is alway one and ever was. Chaucer.

And when a soldier was the theme, my name Was not far off. Shak.

2. Discourse on a certain subject.

Then ran repentance and rehearsed his theme. Piers Plowman.

It was the subject of my theme. Shak.

3. A composition or essay required of a pupil. Locke.

4. (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.

5. That by means of which a thing is done; means; instrument. [Obs.] Swift.

6. (Mus.) The leading subject of a composition or a movement.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913