significatio Latin · revision 31835

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *sek-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''significātiō''' ''f'' (genitive significātiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|significō|-tiō|t1=to show by signs]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The verb is from [[m|la|sīgnum|t=sign]] and [[m|la|faciō|t=to make]];^(Wiktionary) de Vaan traces [[m|la|sīgnum]] to [[itc-pro|*sekno-|t=statue, sign]], from [[ine-pro|*sek-no-|t=cut]], with a shift from “what is carved out” to “sign”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|segúnú|t=statues]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero;^(Köbler 2010) the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'' of the same years defines exclamation as what conveys a sign of grief or indignation.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the giving of signs or signals, as in Caesar's “a signal was made with fires”, and the conveying of information, as in Cicero's god who would use dreams in vain.^(OLD 2012) It is also an outward sign or expression, of omens and portents and of feeling shown by applause at assemblies.^(OLD 2012) In speech and writing it is a hint or suggestion, and in rhetoric the figure that suggests more than the words say.^(OLD 2012) From Varro on it is the meaning or sense of a word.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “sign, mark, meaning”,^(Stelten 1995) and in medieval documents it is the sealing of a charter.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of signals made with fires.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of signs, omens and applause.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of the meaning of a word.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Middle Ages – Of the sealing of a charter.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|signal]], the giving of signs; the conveying of information.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An outward sign, expression, [[m|en|token]]; a sign given by omens; [[m|en|applause]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A hint, [[m|en|suggestion]]; in rhetoric, a figure that suggests more than is said.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The [[m|en|meaning]] or sense of a word.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The sealing of a document.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[significo|alt=significō]]

+ * [[signum|alt=sīgnum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}