significo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sɪŋˈnɪ.fɪ.koː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [siɲˈɲiː.fi.ko]^[1]

Forms

significō (present infinitive significāre, perfect active significāvī, supine significātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin signum (“sign”) + -ficō (“make”), with a linking ⟨-i-⟩.^[2][1][3] Gellius says a deponent ⟨significor⟩ existed in early Latin.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of indicating by signs and of making signs.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to show by signs, indicate, as Caesar's signalling a surrender, of objects and events to indicate, and to make signs.^[2][5] From Cicero it meant to be an indication of a quality, to make known in speech or writing, to suggest, refer to, and to foretell a future event.^[2] It meant to mean, signify, of words to denote, as in Varro, and of symbols, as in Lucretius.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to warn, give a sign, express, publish, signify.^[6] Through Old French signifier it gave English signify in the late 13th century, and its participle significāns gave English significant in the 1570s.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of signs.^[2][4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the meaning of words.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of making known and of foretelling.^[2][4]
• late 13th century – English signify is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To indicate by signs; to make signs.^[2]
2. To show, be an indication of.^[2]
3. To make known; to suggest; to mention.^[2]
4. To mean, signify; of words, to denote.^[2]
5. To foretell.^[2]

Word family

• significābilis
• significāns
• significanter
• significantia
• significātiō
• significātivus
• significātōrius

Related words

• signifer
• signō
• signum
• faciō
• English signify
• English significant

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com