noun · neuterthird declension
īnsigne
īnsigne n (genitive īnsignis)
Classical[ĩːˈsɪŋ.nɛ]Ecclesiastical[inˈsiɲ.ɲe]
Meaning
- a distinguishing mark, emblem, badge
- an ensign, an honour, a badge of honour
- a coat of arms
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Eminens · Excellens · Præclarus · Præstans · Insignis · Singularis · Unicus
1. Eminens, excellens, præclarus, and præstans, involve a quiet acknowledgment of superiority; whereas egregius, with an expression of enthusiasm, like glorious; eximius, with an expression of admiration, like excellent. 2. Eximius, &c. relate altogether to good qualities, like superior, and can be connected with vices and faults only in irony; whereas insignis, singularis, and unicus, are indifferent, and serve as well to heighten blame as praise, like distinguished, matchless. (vi. 111.)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | īnsigne | īnsignia |
| genitive | īnsignis | īnsignium |
| dative | īnsignī | īnsignibus |
| accusative | īnsigne | īnsignia |
| ablative | īnsignī | īnsignibus |
| vocative | īnsigne | īnsignia |
insigne, is, n. insignis,
I. a mark, sign, signal; a distinctive mark, a badge of office (class.).
A. Lit.:
quod erat insigne, eum facere, etc., Cic. de Or. 3, 33, 133: Minerva singulare est insigne ejus gymnasii, id. Att. 1, 4, 3: bos in Aegypto etiam numinis vice colitur: Apim vocant. Insigne ei in dextro latere candicans macula, Plin. 8, 46, 71, § 184.—Plur.: sibi haberent honores ... sibi triumphos, sibi alia praeclarae laudis insignia, Cic. Pis. 9, 26.— B. A sign or badge of office or honor, a decoration: bulla erat indicium et insigne fortunae, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 152; id. Div. 1, 17, 36; Liv. 25, 4; Suet. Aug. 35.—Esp. in plur., insignia, attire, uniform, costume, regalia, etc.:
sedebat cum purpura, et sceptro, et insignibus illis regiis, Cic. Sest. 26, 57: imperatoris, Caes. B. C. 3, 96: sacerdotum, Liv. 3, 39: pontificalia, id. 10, 7: militaria, ornaments, probably on the helmets of the officers, Caes. B. G. 7, 45: triumphorum, Suet. Aug. 29: majestatis, Just. 10, 1, 3; cf.: horum (mundi et caeli) insignia, sol, luna, etc., Cic. N. D. 1, 36, 100: vocis, the costume of a public singer, Juv. 8, 227. —C. A standard: navem Bruti, quae ex insigni facile agnosci poterat, i. e. the flag of the admiral's ship, Caes. B. C. 2, 6.—
D. A signal:
in praetoria nave insigne nocturnum trium luminum fore, Liv. 29, 25, 11.—II. Trop., an honor:
insignia virtutis multi sine virtute adsecuti sunt, Cic. Fam. 3, 13, 1: laudis, id. Sull. 9, 26: orationis lumina et quodam modo insignia, brilliant passages, gems, id. Or. 39, 135 (v. the context): verborum et sententiarum insignia, id. de Or. 2, 9, 36; 3, 25, 96 al.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
īnsīgne is, n
insignis, a mark, indication, proof, sign, token, signal: quod erat insigne, eum facere, etc.: Minerva singulare est insigne eius gymnasi: clipei insigne decorum, i. e. conspicuous shield, V.: maeroris, mourning: morbi, H.—A badge, garb, decoration: regis, V.: quo (vestitu) insigni uti consuerat, Cs.: fortunae: nec vestis habitu nec alio ullo insigni differentes, etc., L.— Usu. plur, attire, uniform, costume, regalia: cum insignibus regiis: inperi, S.: imperatoris, Cs.: sacerdotes, suis insignibus velati, L.: tectis insignibus suorum, ornaments of the helmets, Cs.: vocis, costume of a singer, Iu.: paternum, coat of arms, V.—A standard: navem Bruti, quae ex insigni facile agnosci poterat, i. e. the flag (of the admiral's ship), Cs.—A signal: quod erat insigne, cum oporteret, etc., Cs.: nocturnum trium luminum, L. —Fig., an honor, distinction: insignia virtutis adsequi.—A gem, brilliant passage, fine saying: orationis: verborum et sententiarum; cf. dicam insigne, a glorious song, H.
Origins
A nominalization of the neuter nominative case form of īnsignis (“marked, distinguished”).
Descendants
- Italianinsegnafrom Latin īnsignia
- Frenchenseignefrom Latin īnsignia
- Englishensignfrom Latin īnsignia
- Spanishenseñafrom Latin īnsignia
- Catalaninsígniafrom Latin īnsignia
- Englishinsigniafrom Latin īnsignia
- Portugueseinsígniafrom Latin īnsignia
- Spanishinsigniafrom Latin īnsignia
- Englishinsigne
- Frenchinsigne