signalis

Forms

signālis (neuter signāle); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin signum (“mark, sign”) + -ālis.^[3][1][4][5] Its neuter, used as a noun, is the medieval signāle, “signal”.^[6][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its only ancient source is the collection of the Roman land surveyors, the Gromatici veteres, where it describes something meant to serve as a sign or mark.^[3][1][2][4] Etymonline and Conte call it Late Latin.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

Etymonline glosses it “used as a signal, pertaining to a sign”, and traces English signal to it through Medieval Latin ⟨signāle⟩ and Old French.^[5] Conte likewise gives it as the Late Latin source of Italian segnale.^[2] From the adjective British Medieval Latin formed the adverb signāliter, “by way of a sign, figuratively” as opposed to literally.^[7]

Timeline

• Late Latin – The writings of the Roman land surveyors use it of what serves as a sign.^[3][1][5]
• late 14th century – English signal is recorded, from Old French and Medieval Latin.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Serving as a sign or mark; intended to give a signal.^[3][1][2][5]

Word family

• signāle
• signāliter

Related words

• English signal

References

1. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
2. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
3. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press