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Signet to Silicispongiæ
Signet
(Sig"net) n. [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe. See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.]
A seal; especially, in England, the seal used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that
pass by bill under the sign manual; — called also privy signet.
I had my father's signet in my purse. Shak. Signet ring, a ring containing a signet or private seal. — Writer to the signet (Scots Law), a judicial
officer who prepares warrants, writs, etc.; originally, a clerk in the office of the secretary of state.
Signeted
(Sig"net*ed), a. Stamped or marked with a signet.
Signifer
(Sig"ni*fer) a. [L., from signum sign + ferre to bear.] Bearing signs. [Obs.] "The signifer
sphere, or zodiac." Holland.
Significance
(Sig*nif"i*cance Sig*nif"i*can*cy) , n. [L. significantia.]
1. The quality or state of being significant.
2. That which is signified; meaning; import; as, the significance of a nod, of a motion of the hand, or of a
word or expression.
3. Importance; moment; weight; consequence.
With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and value to the few facts which I possess. De
Quincey. Significant
(Sig*nif"i*cant) a. [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.]
1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive
or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look.
It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient. Sir W. Raleigh. 2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event.
Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers
at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.
Significant
(Sig*nif"i*cant), n. That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol. Wordsworth.
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts. Shak. Significantly
(Sig*nif"i*cant*ly), adv. In a significant manner.
Significate
(Sig*nif"i*cate) n. [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. See Signify.] (Logic) One of several
things signified by a common term. Whately.
Signification
(Sig`ni*fi*ca"tion) n. [F. signification, L. significatio.]
1. The act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means.
A signification of being pleased. Landor.
All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or addres of one man to another. South. 2. That which is signified or made known; that meaning which a sign, character, or token is intended to
convey; as, the signification of words.
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