Etimology
From Middle English signe, sygne, syng, seine, sine, syne, from Old English seġn (“sign; mark; token”) and Old French signe, seing (“sign; mark; signature”); both from Latin signum (“a mark; sign; token”); root uncertain. Doublet of signum. Partially displaced native token.
noun
sign (countable and uncountable, plural signs)
(sometimes also used uncountably) A fact that shows that something exists or may happen.
A mark or another symbol used to represent something.
(Canada, US, Australia, uncountable) Physical evidence left by an animal.
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
(astrology) An astrological sign.
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
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.
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); (linguistics, semiotics) a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. (See sign (semiotics).)
An omen.
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
Examples
Synonyms: indication, evidence
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.
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.
Synonyms: mark, marking, signal, symbol
The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
The sound of the Orlando dinner train whistle reminds me that it ' s already Friday, an auditory sign. Another auditory sign, a distant thunder clap, warns me of limited computer time before our evening thunderstorm moves in.
The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
Animal sign is the key to eliminating guesswork when setting your traps. Only trap where there is sign. Sign is anything the animal leaves as a trace that indicates it may have passed through the area.
The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes?
In American Sign Language , for instance, the sign for 'catch' is formed with one hand moving across the body to grasp the forefinger of the other hand .
Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
A Noun substantive and a Noun adjective may be thus distinguished, that a substantive may have the sign a or the before it; as, puer, a boy, the boy; but an adjective cannot, as, bonus, good.
A Pronoun is a Noun implying a Person, but not admitting the Sign a or the before it.
And some linguistic signs, like “the”, “and” or “with”, may lack apparent objects, though they are clearly meaningful and interpretable.
"It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
The great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n.
Related words
related terms
signage
signal
signaletic
signatory
signature
signet
Etimology
From Middle English signen, seinen, seinien, partly from Old English seġnian (“to mark; sign”) and partly from Anglo-Norman seigner, seiner et al., Old French signer et al., and their source Latin signāre (“to mark, seal, indicate, signify”); all from Latin 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)
To make a mark
To make the sign of the cross
To indicate
To determine the sign of
Examples
The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].
Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […] .
I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
Just sign your name at the bottom there.
I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
Please sign on the dotted line.
Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.
It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
At the baptismal ceremony the child was […] signed with the cross in holy water.
Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.
I signed to Brown to make his retreat.
He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
Related words
related terms
signal
signature
signet
signify