sign
1. sign \'si-n\ n [ME signe, fr. OF, fr. L signum mark, token, sign, image,
seal; pro]b. akin to L secare to cut - more at SAW 1a: a motion or gesture
by which a thought is expressed or a command or wis h made known 1b: SIGNAL
1c: a fundamental linguistic unit that designates an object or relation or
has a purely syntactic function 1d: one of a set of gestures used to
represent language 2: a mark having a conventional meaning and used in
place of words or to re present a complex notion 3: one of the 12 divisions
of the zodiac 4a: a character (as a flat or sharp) used in musical
notation; specif : SEGNO 4b: a character (as /, <radical>, or ) indicating
a mathematical o peration; also : one of two characters + and - that form
part of the symbol of a number and characterize it as positive or negative
5a: a lettered board or other display used to identify or advertise a place
of business 5b: a posted command, warning, or direction 5c: SIGNBOARD
6a: something material or external that stands for or signifies something s
piritual 6b: something that serves to indicate the presence or existence of
somethin g : TOKEN 6c: PRESAGE, PORTENT 6d: an objective evidence of plant
or animal disease 7: a remarkable event supposed to indicate the will of a
deity : PRODI GYa sensible indication of what is not itself directly
perceptible. SIGN applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses
or the reason; MARK suggests something impressed on or inherently
characteristic of a thing often in contrast to general outward appearance;
TOKEN applies to something that serves as a proof of something intangible;
NOTE suggests a distinguishing mark or characteristic; SYMPTOM suggests an
outward indication of an inward change or condition as in the human body, a
social group, or a mechanism SYN syn SIGN, MARK, TOKEN, NOTE, SYMPTOM mean
2. sign vb [ME signen, fr. MF signer, fr. L signare to mark, sign, seal,]
fr. signum 1a: to place a sign upon 1b: CROSS 1c: to represent or
indicate by a sign 2a: to affix a signature to : SUBSCRIBE 2b: to write
down (one's name) 3: to communicate by making a sign 4: to engage or hire
by securing the signature of on a contract of employm ent 1: to write one's
name in token of assent, responsibility, or obligation 2: to make a sign
or signal - sign.er n