1. The condition, rank, post, or authority of a captain or chief commander. "To take the captainship." Shak.

2. Military skill; as, to show good captainship.

CAPTATION Cap*ta`tion, n. Etym: [L. captatio, fr. captare to catch, intens of caper to take: cf. F. captation.]

Defn: A courting of favor or applause, by flattery or address; a captivating quality; an attraction. [Obs.] Without any of those dresses, or popular captations, which some men use in their speeches. Eikon Basilike.

CAPTION Cap"tion, n. Etym: [L. captio, fr. caper to take. In senses 3 and 4, perhaps confounded in meaning with L. caput a head. See Capacious.]

1. A caviling; a sophism. [Obs.] This doctrine is for caption and contradiction. Bacon.

2. The act of taking or arresting a person by judicial process. [R.] Bouvier.

3. (Law)

Defn: That part of a legal instrument, as a commission, indictment, etc., which shows where, when, and by what authority, it taken, found, or executed. Bouvier. Wharton.

4. The heading of a chapter, section, or page. [U. S.]