Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Signature
Sig′na-ture
,Noun.
[F. (cf. It. ]
signatura
, segnatura
, Sp. & LL. signatura
), from L. signare
, signatum
. See Sign
, Verb.
T.
1.
A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal.
The brain, being well furnished with various traces,
signatures
, and images. I. Watts.
The natural and indelible
signature
of God, which human souls . . . are supposed to be stamped with. Bentley.
2.
Especially, the name of any person, written with his own hand, employed to signify that the writing which precedes accords with his wishes or intentions; a sign manual; an autograph.
3.
(Physiol.)
An outward mark by which internal characteristics were supposed to be indicated.
Some plants bear a very evident
signature
of their nature and use. Dr. H. More.
4.
(Old Med.)
A resemblance between the external characters of a disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; – supposed to indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.
5.
(Mus.)
The designation of the key (when not C major, or its relative, A minor) by means of one or more sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff, immediately after the clef, affecting all notes of the same letter throughout the piece or movement. Each minor key has the same signature as its relative major.
6.
(Print.)
(a)
A letter or figure placed at the bottom of the first page of each sheet of a book or pamphlet, as a direction to the binder in arranging and folding the sheets.
(b)
The printed sheet so marked, or the form from which it is printed;
as, to reprint one or more
. signatures
☞ Star signatures (as A*, 1*) are the same characters, with the addition of asterisks, used on the first pages of offcuts, as in 12mo sheets.
7.
(Pharm.)
That part of a prescription which contains the directions to the patient. It is usually prefaced by S or Sig. (an abbreviation for the Latin signa, imperative of signare to sign or mark).
Sig′na-ture
,Verb.
T.
To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.
Webster 1828 Edition
Signature
SIG'NATURE
,Noun.
1.
A sign, stamp or mark impressed. The brain being well furnished with various traces, signatures and images. The natural and indelible signature of God stamped on the human soul.2.
In old medical writers, and external mark or character on a plant, which was supposed to indicate its suitableness to cure particular diseases, or diseases of particular parts. This plants with yellow flowers were supposed to be adapted to the cure of the jaundice, &c. Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use.3.
A mark for proof, or proof from marks.4.
Sign manual; the name of a person written or subscribed by himself.5.
Among printers, a letter or figure at the bottom of the first page of a sheet or half sheet, by which the sheets are distinguished and their order designated, as a direction to the binder. Every successive sheet has a different letter or figure, and if the sheets are more numerous than the letters of the alphabet, the a small letter is added to the capital one; thus Aa, Bb, In large volumes, the signatures are sometimes composed of letters and figures; thus 5A, 5B. But some printer now use figures only for signatures.6.
In physiognomy, an external mark or feature by which some persons pretend to discover the nature and qualities of a thing, particularly the temper and genius of persons.SIG'NATURE
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
signature
signature
English
Adjective
signature (comparative more signature, superlative most signature) (unusually not comparable)
- Distinctive, characteristic, indicative of identity.
- Rabbit in mustard sauce is my signature dish.
- The signature route of the airline is its daily flight between Buenos Aires and Madrid.
- 2001, Lawrence J. Vale, Sam Bass Warner, Imaging the city: continuing struggles and new directions,
- Consider Las Fallas of Valencia, Spain, arguably the most signature of signature ephemera.
- 2005, Paul Duchscherer, Linda Svendsen, Beyond the bungalow: grand homes in the arts & crafts tradition,
- Considered the most signature effect of the Tudor Revival style, half-timbering derived its distinctive […] .
- 2005, Brett Dawson, Tales from the 2004-05 Fighting Illini,
- But it was perhaps the most signature shot Williams ever made in an Illinois uniform, a bullying basket in which he used his power to pound Stoudamire, […] .
- 2005, CBS News website, Paul Winchell Dead At Age 82,
Noun
signature (plural signatures)
- A person’s name, written by that person, used to signify approval of accompanying material, such as a legal contract.
- 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate, Prologue:
- Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language […] his clerks […] understood him very well. If he had written a love letter, or a farce, or a ballade, or a story, no one, either clerks, or friends, or compositors, would have understood anything but a word here and a word there. For his signature, however, that was different.
- 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate, Prologue:
- The act of signing one's name.
- (medicine) That part of a doctor’s prescription containing directions for the patient.
- (music) Signs on the stave indicating key and tempo.
- (printing) A group of four (or a multiple of four) pages printed such that, when folded, become a section of a book.
- (computing) A pattern used for matching the identity of a virus, the parameter types of a method, etc.
- (cryptography) Data attached to a message that guarantees that the message originated from its claimed source.
- (figuratively) A mark or sign of implication.
- (Can we date this quote?) Richard Bentley (1662-1742)
- the natural and indelible signature of God, stamped on the human soul
- 1997, Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault, page 67, The Renaissance Episteme, Totem Books, Icon Books; ISBN 1840460865,
- A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane knowledge. Knowing was guessing and interpreting, not observing or demonstrating.
- (Can we date this quote?) Richard Bentley (1662-1742)
- (mathematics) A tuple specifying the sign of coefficients in any diagonal form of a quadratic form.
- (medicine, obsolete) A resemblance between the external character of a disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; supposed to indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.
Hyponyms
Derived terms
- signature-compatible
Translations
person’s autograph name
|
|
See also
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /si.ɲa.tyʁ/
Noun
signature f (plural signatures)
- signature (a person's name written in their own handwriting)
- désavouer sa signature
- the act of signing
- Le décret est à la signature.