noun · neutersecond declension
signum
signum n (genitive signī)
Classical[ˈsɪŋ.nũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈsiɲ.ɲum]
№ 261 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- neutervisible indication: sign, mark, signal
signa cōnferre cum aliquō
to go fight with someone - neuterseal, signet
- neuteremblem, ensign
- neuterwatchword
- neutersymptom, prognostic
- neutermiracle, miraculous work, sign
- neuterstatue, figure
Delum venit. Ibi ex fano Apollinis religiosissimo noctu clam sustulit signa pulcherrima atque antiquissima, eaque in onerariam navem suam conicienda curavit.
He went to Delos. There, from that holiest temple of Apollo, at night, he secretly took away the most beautiful and ancient statues, and made sure to have them loaded on board his own ship.70 BCE, Cicero, In Verrem 2.1.46 - neuterpoeticconstellation; sign in the heavens, heavenly sign
ōrdō signōrum
the Zodiac signs29 BCE, Vergilius, Georgicon 1.239lāpsaque sub terrās ortaque signa canō
… and the constellations having sunk beneath the earth and arisen, I sing.8 CE, Ovidius, Fasti 4.12 - Medieval Latinneutersignum (medieval tower bell used particularly for ringing the 8 canonical hours)
- Medieval Latinneuterthe cross of Jesus Christ & Christianity.
Tribus autem digitis signa facimus, quia Trinitatem exprimimus.
We perform these signings of the cross with three fingers, because we represent the Trinity with it.12th c., Honorius Augustodunensis, Gemma animae 1.57 (from du Cange, Glossarium mediæ et infimæ latinitatis, page 482a)
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
quod legiōnem dūcit: aquila et discī in altō lignō; etiam nūntius tubae.signum -ī n — in Mille Verba, Bellum et Arma
rēs quae aliud significat, mīrāculumsignum -ī (n) — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 9, 10, 14
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Imago · Simulacrum · Statua · Signum
1. Imago and simulacrum denote, as the most general terms, any representation, whether a work of statuary or of painting; imago (μηχανή) is allied to the original, as to a pattern, by a striking likeness of form, like εἰκών; simulacrum is opposed to the original, as a real being, by a deceptive imitation of its form, like εἴδωλον; whereas statua, signum, and effigies, are merely plastic works; tabula and pictura, merely pictures. 2. Simulacrum and statua denote the copying of the whole figure, consequently, in the plastic art, standing figures; effigies and imago, principally the copying of the characteristic parts, namely, the features; effigies, in statuary, as busts; imago, in painting, as half-length portraits. Tac. Ann. i. 74. Alia in statua amputato capite Augusti effigiem Tiberii inditam. Hist. ii. 3. Simulacrum deæ effigie humana. Cic. Tusc. iii. 2, 3. Optimus quisque consectatur nullam eminentem effigiem (virtutis) sed adumbratam imaginem gloriæ. Signum (from sequo, to proclaim,) means any plastic work, in opp. to tabulæ and picturæ. Sal. Cat. 11. Cic. Orat. i. 35. Man. 14. Suet. Cæs. 47. Quintil. ix. 2. Cic. Verr. iv. 1; simulacrum means the sacred statue of a god, like ἄγαλμα; statua, the profane statue of a man, like ἀνδριάς. Cic. Cat. iii. 8. Simulacra deorum immortalium depulsa sunt et statuæ veterum hominum dejectæ. Tac. Ann. i. 73. Suet. Tib. 26. Cic. Verr. i. 22. Legati deorum simulacra venerabantur, itemque cætera signa et ornamenta lacrimantes intuebantur. (v. 237.)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | signum | signa |
| genitive | signī | signōrum |
| dative | signō | signīs |
| accusative | signum | signa |
| ablative | signō | signīs |
| vocative | signum | signa |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- signum proelii dare
- to give the signal to engage.
- signa ferre, tollere
- to begin the march, break up the camp.
- signa receptui canunt
- the retreat is sounded.
- signa inferre in hostem
- to attack the enemy.
- signa conferre cum hoste
- to come to close quarters.
- signa et tabulae (pictae)
- statues and pictures.
- signa convertere (B. G. 1. 25)
- to deviate, change the direction.
- collatis signis (viribus) pugnare
- to fight hand-to-hand, at close quarters.
3 more phrases
- signa convellere (vid. sect. XVI. 6, note signa...)
- to pluck up the standards out of the ground (to begin the march).
- signum proelii (committendi) exposcere (B. G. 7. 19)
- to demand loudly the signal to engage.
- signa sequi (opp. a signis discedere, signa relinquere)
- to follow the standards.
signum, i, n. perh. Sanscr. sag-, to cling to, adhere; cf. sigilla.
I. In gen., a mark, token, sign, indication (very frequent in all styles and periods; cf.
insigne): meo patri torulus inerit aureus Sub petaso: id signum Amphitruoni non erit, Plaut. Am. prol. 145 sq.: ut eam (nutricem) adducam et signa ostendam haec, i. e. crepundia, Ter. Eun. 4, 7, 38; 5, 3, 5: ut fures earum rerum, quas ceperunt, signa commutant, etc., Cic. Fin. 5, 25, 74; so (with notae) id. de Or. 2, 41, 174; id. Lael. 17, 62; cf.: omne probabile aut signum est aut credibile ... Signum est, quod sub sensum aliquem cadit et quiddam significat, quod ex ipso profectum videtur, etc., id. Inv. 1, 30, 47 sq.: aut pecori signum aut numeros inpressit acervis, Verg. G. 1, 263; cf.: servitii signum cervice gerens, Ov. M. 3, 16: jaculo mihi vulnera fecit.—Signa vides: apparet adhuc vetus ecce cicatrix, Ov. M. 12, 444: metam Constituit signum nautis pater, unde reverti Scirent, etc., Verg. A. 5, 130: scutum signi gratia positum, Quint. 6, 3, 38: signa pedum, tracks, prints, Ov. M. 4, 543; and simply signa, Verg. A. 8, 212 al.: oculis mihi signum dedit, Ne se appellarem, Plaut. Mil. 2, 1, 45: dare, Ter. Eun. 4, 7, 11: dicere deos gallis signum dedisse cantandi, Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57 al.: signa esse ad salutem, Ter. And. 3, 2, 2: animi pudentis signum, id. Heaut. 1, 1, 68: color pudoris signum, id. And. 5, 3, 7: signa doloris ostendere, Cic. de Or. 2, 45, 190: mortis dare, Lucr. 6, 1182: timoris mittere, to exhibit, display, Caes. B. C. 1, 71 et saep.—With obj.-clause: magnum hoc quoque signum est, dominam esse extra noxiam, Ter. Heaut. 2, 3, 57; Nep. Att. 17, 2.—In predic. gen. with neutr. pron.: hoc est signi; ubi primum poterit, se illinc subducet, Ter. Eun. 4, 1, 14: id erit signi me invitum facere, quod, etc., Cic. Rosc. Am. 30, 83; Auct. Her. 4, 5, 8; Cato, R. R. 38, 4; 88, 2: nil tamen est signi, Lucr. 5, 918; cf.: quid signi? Cic. Cael. 16, 38, 2.— Hence, a surname, epithet (rare): huic signum exercitus apposuit, Vop. Am. 6; cf. Capitol. Gord. 4.—II. In partic.
A. In milit. lang.
1. The distinctive sign of a division of an army.
a. A military standard, ensign, banner (including the aquila):
signifero interfecto, signo amisso, Caes. B. G. 2, 25: ut neque signiferi viam, nec signa milites cernerent, Liv. 33, 7: Hasdrubal ut procul signa legionum fulgentia vidit, id. 28, 14; 22, 21; Col. 9, 9, 4: inter signa militaria, Hor. Epod. 9, 15: cum unius signi militibus pergit ire, Liv. 33, 1: signa militaria ex proelio relata, Caes. B. C. 3, 99; so, militaria, id. B. G. 7, 2; Plin. 33, 33, 19, § 58.— Hence the expressions: signa sequi, to follow the standards, to march in military order, Sall. J. 80, 2; Liv. 24, 48, 11: signa subsequi, to keep in order of battle, Caes. B. G. 4, 26: signa observare, Sall. J. 51, 1: signa servare, Liv. 8, 34, 10; Veg. Mil. 1, 9: ab signis discedere, to desert the standards, leave the ranks, Caes. B. G. 5, 16; 5, 33 fin.; id. B. C. 1, 44; Liv. 25, 20 al.; cf.: ab ordinibus signisque discedere, Front. Strat. 1, 5, 3: signa relinquere, to desert, Sall. C. 9, 4; Liv. 5, 6 al.: signa deserere, Liv. 8, 34, 9: signa ferre, i. e. to break up the camp, Caes. B. G. 1, 39 fin.; 1, 40; Liv. 2, 49, 3; 10, 5 al.; for which: movere signa, id. 1, 14, 9; 27, 2, 12; Verg. G. 3, 236; and: tollere, Vell. 2, 61, 2; Auct. B. Alex. 57, 1; but: ferte signa in hostem, attack, Liv. 9, 23, 13: signa constituere, to halt, Caes. B. G. 7, 47; cf.: infestis contra hostes signis constiterunt, id. ib. 7, 51: signa proferre, to advance, Liv. 4, 32, 10: signa convertere, to wheel, turn, or face about, Caes. B. G. 1, 25 fin.; 2, 26: Liv. 8, 11; 2, 14; 4, 29; for which, vertere signa, id. 9, 35: signa inferre (in aliquem), to advance to the attack, make an assault, Caes. B. G. 1, 25 fin.; 2, 26; 7, 67; id. B. C. 2, 42; Cic. Phil. 5, 8, 23; Sall. J. 56, 5; Liv. 2, 53; 9, 27; 44, 12 al; cf.: signa conferre cum aliquo, to engage with, engage in close fight, Cic. Att. 7, 5, 5; id. Pis. 21, 49; and cf.: collatis signis pugnare, superare aliquem, etc., Plaut. Cas. 2, 5, 44; Liv. 1, 33; 2, 50; Cic. Imp. Pomp. 23, 66; but conferre signa also means simply to bring the standards together (to one place), Caes. B. G. 7, 2; 2, 25; Liv. 37, 21: signa in laevum cornu confert, concentrates his troops, id. 7, 15, 4: signa transferre, to desert, Caes. B. C. 1, 24: signa convellere, to take up the standards, which had been fixed in the ground, Liv. 3, 7, 3; 3, 54, 10; 5, 37, 4; so, vellere signa, id. 3, 50, 11; Verg. G. 4, 108: revellere signa, Luc. 7, 77; cf.: signa figere, to encamp, Amm. 27, 10, 9: defigere signa, Sil. 8, 625: sub signis ducere legiones, ire, esse, etc., together, in order, in rank and file, Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 71 (with ordine); Cic. Att. 16, 8, 2; Liv. 3, 51; Tac. H. 2, 14: signa hostium turbare, to throw into disorder, Liv. 9, 73: ante signa, before the army, id. 5, 18; 6, 7; 7, 16: post signa, id. 2, 49.—(b). Transf., in gen.:
infestis prope signis inferuntur Galli in Fonteium, Cic. Font. 20, 44 (16, 34).—b. Esp., the standard or ensign of single cohorts and maniples (opp. aquila, the standard of the entire legion):
cum fasces, cum tubas, cum signa militaria, cum aquilam illam argenteam ... scirem esse praemissam, Cic. Cat. 2, 6, 13; Galb. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 30, 5; Suet. Calig. 14 fin. Oud.; Tac. A. 1, 18; id. H. 2, 29 fin.; Plin. 13, 3, 4, § 23; Luc. 1, 6; 1, 224 al. (cf. aquila, 2.): manipulos exercitus minimas manus quae unum sequuntur signum, Varr. L. L. 5, § 88 Müll.—(b). Meton., a cohort, a maniple:
octo cohortes in fronte constituit, reliquarum signa in subsidio artius collocat, Sall. C. 59, 2; Liv. 8, 9; 25, 23 fin.; 33, 1; 27, 14; 28, 14; Auct. B. Hisp. 18, 3.—2. A sign, signal; a watchword, password, given by a wind-instrument, by the tessera, or otherwise:
signum tubā dare, Caes. B. G. 2, 20; 7, 81: proelii committendi dare, id. ib. 2, 21: recipiendi dare, id. ib. 7, 52: receptui dare, Liv. 4, 31; 26, 45; 3, 22; cf. Cic. Rep. 1, 2, 3: signum dare ut, etc., Liv. 2, 20; 4, 39: proelii exposcere, Caes. B. G. 7, 19: concinere, id. B. C. 3, 92 fin.; Liv. 30, 5; cf. Tac. A. 1, 68: canere, Sall. C. 59, 1; id. J. 99, 1; Liv. 1, 1; 4, 31; 27, 47; Cic. Rep. 1, 3, 3 al. (v. cano).—For the chariot race: signum mittendis quadrigis dare, Liv. 8, 40, 3: signum mittere, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107: signo Felicitatis dato, the word, watchword, Felicitas, Auct. B. Afr. 83: signum petere, Suet. Calig. 56; id. Claud. 42; id. Ner. 9; cf.: it bello tessera signum, Verg. A. 7, 637.—Transf.: tu illam (virtutem) jubes signum petere, i. e. to be in subjection, Sen. Ben. 4, 2, 2.—B. A sign or token of any thing to come; a prognostic, symptom (cf.:
portentum, indicium): ipse et equus ejus repente concidit: nec eam rem habuit religioni, objecto signo, ut peritis videbatur, ne committeret proelium, Cic. Div. 1, 35, 77: medici signa quaedam habent ex venis et ex spiritu aegroti, id. ib. 2, 70, 145; cf. Verg. G. 3, 440; 3, 503; 4, 253; Cels. 2, 3: prospera signa dare, Ov. H. 18 (19), 152.—C. An image, as a work of art; a figure, statue, picture, etc. (syn.: effigies, imago, simulacrum);
inerant (classi) signa expressa, Titani quomodo, etc., Naev. 2, 13: statuas deorum, exempla earum facierum, s gna domi pro supellectile statuere, Cato ap. Prisc. p. 782 P.: signum pictum in pariete, Plaut. Merc. 2, 2, 44: signum in fano, id. Rud. 2, 7, 2: aëna signa, Lucr. 1, 318: ante signum Jovis Statoris concidit, Cic. Div. 1, 35, 77: signum aeneum, marmoreum, eburneum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 1, § 1; cf. id. Off. 1, 41, 147; Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 248: cratera impressum signis, Verg. A. 5, 536; 5, 267; 9, 263: (vestis) auro signisque ingentibus apta, Lucr. 5, 1428: ex ornatis aedibus per aulaea et signa, Sall. H. 2, 23, 2 Dietsch: pallam signis auroque rigentem, Verg. A. 1, 648: e Pario formatum marmore signum, Ov. M. 3, 419; cf. id. ib. 5, 183; 12, 398: statuas, signa, picturas commendet, Plin. Ep. 1, 20, 5.—D. An image or device on a seal-ring; a seal, signet: ostendi tabellas Lentulo, et quaesivi, cognosceretne signum. Annuit. Est vero, inquam, notum signum, imago avi tui, etc., Cic. Cat. 3, 5, 10:
(patera) in cistulā obsignata signo est, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 265; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 45, § 117: tabulae maximae signis hominum nobilium consignantur, id. Quint. 6, 25: imprimat his signa tabellis, Hor. S. 2, 6, 38: litterae integris signis praetoribus traduntur, Cic. Cat. 3, 3, 6; Sall. C. 47, 3: signo laeso non insanire lagenae, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 134: volumen sub signo habere, to have under seal, Cic. Att. 9, 10, 4; cf.: sub signo claustrisque rei publicae positum vectigal, id. Agr. 1, 7, 21: nec pacta conventaque inpressis signis custodirentur, Sen. Ben. 3, 15, 1: cum sol duodena peregit signa, Ov. M. 13, 618.—E. A sign in the heavens, a constellation (cf. sidus):
caeli subter labentia signa, Lucr. 1, 2: loca caelio Omnia, dispositis signis ornata, id. 5, 695: signorum ortus et obitus, Cic. Inv. 1, 34, 59: signis omnibus ad idem principium stellisque revocatis, id. Rep. 6, 22, 24: in signo leonis, id. Div. 1, 53, 121: signorum obitus speculari et ortus, Verg. G. 1, 257; id. A. 7, 138: signum pluviale Capellae, Ov. F. 5, 113: ponemusque suos ad vaga signa dies, id. ib. 1, 310: nox caelo diffundere signa parabat, Hor. S. 1, 5, 10; cf. id. C. 2, 8, 11.—Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
sīgnum ī, n
a mark, token, sign, indication, proof : ostendisti signa nutrici? (i. e. crepundia), T.: fures earum rerum, quas ceperunt, signa commutant: in amicis deligendis habere quasi signa et notas, quibus eos iudicarent, etc.: pecori signum inpressit, V.: nulla ad speluncum signa ferebant, footprints, V.: dicere deos gallis signum dedisse cantandi: color pudoris signum, T.: timoris signa mittere, display, Cs.: Magnum hoc quoque signum est, dominam esse extra noxiam, T.: id erit signi me invitum facere, quod, etc.: quid signi?—A military standard, ensign, banner: signo amisso, Cs.: ut neque signiferi viam, nec signa milites cernerent, L.: Inter signa militaria, H.: signa sequi, to march in rank, S.: signa subsequi, to keep the order of battle, Cs.: signa servare, L.: ab signis discedere, to leave the ranks, Cs.: volonum exercitus ab signis discessit, disbanded, L.: signa relinquere, to run away, S.: signa ferre, i. e. to decamp, Cs.: mota e castris signa eorum, qui, etc., i. e. an advance of the troops, etc., L.: Signa movet, advances, V.: ferte signa in hostem, attack, L.: signa constituere, halt, Cs.: signa proferre, advance, L.: Romani conversa signa bipertito intulerunt, i. e. wheeled and attacked in two columns, Cs.: signa patriae inferens: qui signa contulit, engaged in close fight: conlatis signis, in regular battle: conlatis militaribus signis, having brought together, etc., Cs.: signa in laevum cornu confert, concentrates his troops, L.: signa transferre, to desert, Cs.: signa convellere, to take up the standards (from the ground), L.: legionem sub signis ducere, in rank and file: ante signa inter primores, in front of the army, L.—Esp., the standard of a cohort, ensign of a maniple (cf. aquila, the standard of the legion): cum fascīs, cum signa militaria (praemissa).—A cohort, maniple: unius signi milites, L.—A sign, signal, call, watchword, password: signum tubā dare, Cs.: receptui dare, L.: proeli exposcere, Cs.: concinere, Cs.: canere, S.: signum mittendis quadrigis dare (for the start in a race), L.: it bello tessera signum, V.—A sign, token, omen, prognostic, symptom: medici signa quaedam habent ex venis aegroti: Morborum signa docebo, V.: prospera signa dare, O.—An image, figure, statue, picture: Iovis Statoris: expressi voltūs per aënea signa, H.: palla signis auroque rigens, V. —A device on a seal, seal, signet: notum signum, imago avi tui, etc.: Imprimat his signa tabellis, H.: litterae integris signis praetoribus traduntur: volumen sub signo habere, under seal.—A sign in the heavens, constellation: signis omnibus ad principium steliisque revocatis: in signo Leonis: signorum obitūs ortūs, V.: pluviale Capellae, O.
Origins
From Proto-Italic *segnom, from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut”) or *sekʷ- (“to follow”).
Descendants
- Catalansenya
- Italiansegno
- Englishsegnofrom Italian segno
- Frenchseingfrom Old French seing
- Catalansenyfrom Old Occitan senh
- Occitansenhfrom Old Occitan senh
- Portuguesesinofrom Old Galician-Portuguese sino
- Portuguesesenha
- Romaniansemn
- Sardiniansemmu
In English words that came into English from signum
- signsignum
- signaturesignātūra
- sealsigillum
- ensignīnsignia
- signalsignāle
- designdesignō
- significantsignificans
- assignassignō
- resignresignāre
- signifysignificare
- designatedēsignātus
- significancesignificantia
- sigilsigillum
- consigncōnsignō
- signetsignum
- sigillographysigillum
- significationsignificātiō
- sainsignō
- signumsignum
- siglumsiglum
- signifersignifer
- signatesignatus
- signatorsignātor
- presignifypraesignificare