italicize

v. print in italics, print using a form of type in which the letters lean to the right (also italicise)

In typography, italic type refers to cursive typefaces based on a stylized form of calligraphic handwriting. The influence from calligraphy can be seen in their usual slight slanting to the right. Different glyph shapes from roman type are also usually used—another influence from calligraphy.Sometimes the term italic is wrongly applied on oblique fonts (mostly sans-serif), when they are merely distorted into a slanted orientation. In italic types, uppercase letters are usually oblique instead of being true italics. Swash capitals are uppercase letters that have flourishes added to them, originally designed to go with italic typefaces. Italic type is often used for emphasis to distinguish or otherwise set off certain words within text.
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Verb
1. print in italics
(synonym) italicise
(hypernym) print, impress
(derivation) italic

(v. t. & i.)
To print in Italic characters; to underline written letters or words with a single line; as, to Italicize a word; Italicizes too much.
  

Synonyms and related words:
accent, accentuate, belabor, dwell on, emphasize, feature, give emphasis to, harp on, highlight, overaccentuate, overemphasize, overstress, place emphasis on, play up, point up, punctuate, rub in, spotlight, star, stress, underline, underscore