SIGNATURE • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Signature

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/sˈɪgnətʃər/ Listen

noun

Signature n.

1.

A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal. "The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures, and images." "The natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls... are supposed to be stamped with."

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."

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. Note: 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).

verb

Signature v. t. To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.

See images of 'Signature'

Etymology of 'Signature'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Signature" Quotes from Famous Books

... one of his Secretaries, for his better assistance in that expedition: and besides his many other directions, whereof part were to be deliuered by word of mouth, and the rest set downe in a letter vnder the Emperours signature, addressed to her Maiesty: he had in speciall charge to sollicit her Maiesty to send ouer with him to his maister an ambassador from her, to treat and contract of such affaires of importance as concerned both the realmes, which was the ...

— The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and Discoveries of The English Nation v. 4 • Richard Hakluyt

... signature—Lafontaine, Capitaine des Chasseurs legers. I had never heard the name before. I begged to know "the nature of his business with me, as it ...

— Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine--Vol. 54, No. 333, July 1843 • Various

... held out his hand, took the greasy little book in its black oil-cloth binding, scrawled his signature in the proper blank, and received the message ...

— The Day of Days - An Extravaganza • Louis Joseph Vance

... seclusion, Oak never came at all when she was likely to be there, only entering at unseasonable hours when her presence in that part of the house was least to be expected. Whenever he wanted directions he sent a message, or note with neither heading nor signature, to which she was obliged to reply in the same offhand style. Poor Bathsheba began to suffer now from the most torturing sting of all—a sensation ...

— Far from the Madding Crowd • Thomas Hardy

... fashionable and profitable. No part of the career of George III deserves more commendation than his patronage of high farming. That he felt keen interest in the subject appears from the letters which he sent to "The Annals of Agriculture" over the signature of "Ralph Robinson," one of his shepherds at Windsor. A present of a ram from the King's fine flock of merinos was a sign of high favour. Thanks to this encouragement and the efforts of that prince of agricultural reformers, ...

— William Pitt and the Great War • John Holland Rose

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