Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Sign

Sign

,
Noun.
[F.
signe
, L.
signum
; cf. AS.
segen
,
segn
, a sign, standard, banner, also fr. L.
signum
. Cf.
Ensign
,
Resign
,
Seal
a stamp,
Signal
,
Signet
.]
That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.
Specifically:
(a)
A remarkable event, considered by the ancients as indicating the will of some deity; a prodigy; an omen.
(b)
An event considered by the Jews as indicating the divine will, or as manifesting an interposition of the divine power for some special end; a miracle; a wonder.
Through mighty
signs
and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.
Rom. xv. 19.
It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first
sign
, that they will believe the voice of the latter
sign
.
Ex. iv. 8.
(c)
Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.
What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a
sign
.
Num. xxvi. 10.
(d)
Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.
The holy symbols, or
signs
, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves.
Brerewood.
Saint George of Merry England, the
sign
of victory.
Spenser.
(e)
A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.
(f)
A motion, an action, or a gesture by which a thought is expressed, or a command or a wish made known.
They made
signs
to his father, how he would have him called.
Luke i. 62.
(g)
Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.
☞ Educaters of the deaf distinguish between natural signs, which serve for communicating ideas, and methodical, or systematic, signs, adapted for the dictation, or the rendering, of written language, word by word; and thus the signs are to be distinguished from the manual alphabet, by which words are spelled on the fingers.
(h)
A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.
Milton.
(i)
A lettered board, or other conspicuous notice, placed upon or before a building, room, shop, or office to advertise the business there transacted, or the name of the person or firm carrying it on; a publicly displayed token or notice.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted
signs
, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
Macaulay.
(j)
(Astron.)
The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.
☞ The signs are reckoned from the point of intersection of the ecliptic and equator at the vernal equinox, and are named, respectively,
Aries
(♈),
Taurus
(♉),
Gemini
(II),
Cancer
(♋),
Leo
(♌),
Virgo
(♍),
Libra
(♎),
Scorpio
(♏),
Sagittarius
(♐),
Capricornus
(♑),
Aquarius
(♒),
Pisces
(♓). These names were originally the names of the constellations occupying severally the divisions of the zodiac, by which they are still retained; but, in consequence of the procession of the equinoxes, the signs have, in process of time, become separated about 30 degrees from these constellations, and each of the latter now lies in the sign next in advance, or to the east of the one which bears its name, as the constellation Aries in the sign Taurus, etc.
(k)
(Alg.)
A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them;
as, the
sign
+ (plus); the
sign
– (minus); the
sign
of division ÷, and the like
.
(l)
(Med.)
An objective evidence of disease; that is, one appreciable by some one other than the patient.
☞ The terms symptom and and sign are often used synonymously; but they may be discriminated. A sign differs from a symptom in that the latter is perceived only by the patient himself. The term sign is often further restricted to the purely local evidences of disease afforded by direct examination of the organs involved, as distinguished from those evidence of general disturbance afforded by observation of the temperature, pulse, etc. In this sense it is often called physical sign.
(m)
(Mus.)
Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.
(n)
(Theol.)
That which, being external, stands for, or signifies, something internal or spiritual; – a term used in the Church of England in speaking of an ordinance considered with reference to that which it represents.
An outward and visible
sign
of an inward and spiritual grace.
Bk. of Common Prayer.
☞ See the Table of
Arbitrary Signs
, p. 1924.
Sign manual
.
(a)
(Eng. Law)
The royal signature superscribed at the top of bills of grants and letter patent, which are then sealed with the privy signet or great seal, as the case may be, to complete their validity
.
(b)
The signature of one’s name in one's own handwriting.
Craig. Tomlins. Wharton.
Syn. – Token; mark; note; symptom; indication; signal; symbol; type; omen; prognostic; presage; manifestation. See
Emblem
.

Sign

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Signed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Signing
.]
[OE.
seinen
to bless, originally, to make the sign of the cross over; in this sense fr. ASS.
segnian
(from
segn
, n.), or OF.
seignier
, F.
signer
, to mark, to sign (in sense 3), fr. L.
signare
to mark, set a mark upon, from
signum
. See
Sign
,
Noun.
]
1.
To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.
I
signed
to Browne to make his retreat.
Sir W. Scott.
2.
To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do
sign
him with the sign of the cross.
Bk. of Com Prayer.
3.
To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.
Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed,
And let him
sign
it.
Shakespeare
4.
To assign or convey formally; – used with away.
5.
To mark; to make distinguishable.
Shak.

Sign

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be a sign or omen.
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.
4.
To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation;
as, he
signed
in red ink
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sign

SIGN

,
Noun.
[L. signum; Gr. deicnumt.]
1.
A token; something by which another thing is shown or represented; any visible thing, any motion, appearance or event which indicates the existence or approach of something else. Thus we speak of signs of fair weather or of a storm, and of external marks which are signs of a good constitution.
2.
A motion, action, nod or gesture indicating a wish or command. They made signs to his father, how he would have him called. Luke 1.
3.
A wonder; a miracle; a prodigy; a remarkable transaction, event or phenomenon. Through mighty signs and wonders. Rom 15. Luke 11.
4.
Some visible transaction, event or appearance intended as proof or evidence of something else; hence; proof; evidence by sight. Show me a sign that thou talkest with me. Judges 6.
5.
Something hung or set near a house or over a door, to give notice of the tenant's occupation, or what is made or sold within; as a trader's sign; a tailor;s sign; the sign of the eagle.
6.
A memorial or monument; something to preserve the memory of a thing. What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign. Num. 16.
7.
Visible mark or representation; as an outward sign of and inward and spiritual grace.
8.
A mark of distinction.
9.
Typical representation. The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative.
10.
In astronomy, the twelfth part of the ecliptic. The signs are reckoned from the point of intersection of the ecliptic and equator at the vernal equinox, and are named respectively, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorns, Aquarius, Pisces. These names are borrowed from the constellations of the zodiac of the same denomination, which were respectively comprehended within the foregoing equal divisions of the ecliptic of the same name, but are considerably in advance of them. Thus the constellation Aries, is now in that part of the ecliptic called Taurus.
11.
In algebra, a character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed by them; as the sign + plus prefixed to a quantity, indicates that the quantity is to be added; the sign - minus, denotes that the quantity to which it is prefixed is to subtracted. The former is prefixed to quantities called affirmative or positive; the latter to quantities called negative.
12.
The subscription of one's name; signature; as a sign manual.
13.
Among physicians, an appearance or symptom in the human body, which indicate its condition as to health or disease.
14.
In music, any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, &c.

SIGN

,
Verb.
T.
sine.
1.
To mark with characters or one's name. To sign a paper, note, deed, &c. is to write one's name at the foot, or underneath the declaration, promise, covenant, grant, &c., by which the person makes it his own act, To sign one's name, is to write or subscribe it on the paper Signing does not now include sealing
2.
To signify; to represent typically. [Not in use.]
3.
To mark.

SIGN

,
Verb.
I.
To be a sign or omen.

Definition 2024

sign

sign

See also: šīgn̥

English

Noun

sign ‎(plural signs)

A traffic sign
  1. (sometimes also used uncountably) A visible indication.
    Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.‎
    Those clouds show signs of raining soon.‎
    Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.‎
    Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.‎
    The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.‎
    I gave them a thumbs-up sign.‎
    The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.‎
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 5, in The Celebrity:
      Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.
  2. A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
    The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.‎
    • Macaulay
      The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
    I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.‎
  3. (astrology) An astrological sign.
    Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.‎
  4. (mathematics) Positive or negative polarity. (Note: it is improper to place a sign on the number zero)
    I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.‎
  5. A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.12:
      And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes?
    • 2007, Marcel Danesi, The Quest for Meaning:
      In American Sign Language (ASL), for instance, the sign for 'catch' is formed with one hand (in the role of agent) moving across the body (an action) to grasp the forefinger of the other hand (the patient).
  6. (uncountable) Sign language in general.
    Sorry, I don't know sign very well.‎
  7. An omen.
    "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.‎
  8. (medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.
  9. A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Anglo-Norman seigner, seiner et al., Old French signer et al., and their source, Latin signāre ‎(“to mark, seal, indicate, signify”), from signum ‎(“a mark, sign”); see Etymology 1, above. Compare sain.

Verb

sign ‎(third-person singular simple present signs, present participle signing, simple past and past participle signed)

  1. To make a mark
    1. (transitive, now rare) To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol. [from 13th c.]
      The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
    2. (transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on. [from 14th c.]
      • 1726, Elijah Fenton, The Odyssey of Homer:
        Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].
    3. (transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it. [from 15th c.]
      • c. 1597, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice:
        Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […].
    4. (transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc. [from 15th c.]
      I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
    5. (transitive or reflexive) To write (one's name) as a signature. [from 16th c.]
      Just sign your name at the bottom there.
      I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
    6. (intransitive) To write one's signature. [from 17th c.]
      Please sign on the dotted line.
    7. (intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc. [from 19th c.]
      • 2011, The Guardian, (headline), 18 Oct 2011:
        Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.
    8. (transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract. [from 19th c.]
      It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
  2. To make the sign of the cross
    1. (transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross. [from 14th c.]
      • Book of Common Prayer
        We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
      • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 34:
        At the baptismal ceremony the child was […] signed with the cross in holy water.
    2. (reflexive) To cross oneself. [from 15th c.]
      • 1855, Robert Browning, Men and Women:
        Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.
  3. To indicate
    1. (intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal. [from 16th c.]
      • Sir Walter Scott:
        I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
    2. (transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone). [from 16th c.]
      He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
    3. (intransitive) To use sign language. [from 19th c.]
    4. (transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs. [from 20th c.]
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English signe, sygne, syng, seine, sine, syne, from Old French signe, seing ‎(“sign; mark; signature”), from Latin signum ‎(“a mark, sign, token”); root uncertain.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /saɪn/
  • Rhymes: -aɪn
  • Homophone: sine

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