Etymologically
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significo

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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

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