sign English · revision 3383

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=la signum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /saɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|signe]], [[bor|fro|signe|t=sign, mark]], and directly [[bor|la|signum|t=mark, token, signal; military standard]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988) According to Watkins it is literally “a standard that one follows”, from [[ine-pro|*sekʷ-|alt=*sekw-|t=to follow]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the root of Latin [[m|la|sequī|t=to follow]].^(Barnhart 1988) Klein, Merriam-Webster and de Vaan relate it instead to [[m|la|secāre|t=to cut]], as “something cut out”.^(Klein 1966)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) The verb is Middle English signen, from Old English [[m|ang|segnian|t=to make the sign of the cross]] and Old French signer,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|signāre|t=to mark]], from signum.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A gesture of the hand, especially one conveying a thought: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'',^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 13th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb, “to make the sign of the cross”, is from the early 13th century^(Etymonline) or about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Sign'' displaced native [[token]].^(Etymonline) A mark or device with a special meaning is from the late 13th century,^(Etymonline) and “an indication of a coming event” and “a miracle” from about 1300.^(Etymonline) One of the twelve divisions of the zodiac is a sign from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and the inn or shop board from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''Sign of the times'' is from the 1520s,^(Etymonline) and conventional symbols, as in music or mathematics, from 1557.^(OED 1989) The verb “to mark, stamp” is from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and “to write one's name on” from 1440^(Barnhart 1988) or the late 15th century.^(Etymonline) “To communicate by hand signs” is from 1700.^(Etymonline) In baseball, to sign a player is by 1889.^(Etymonline) ''Sign language'' is from 1847, ''signboard'' from 1632 and ''signpost'' from 1620.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – a gesture.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – verb, to cross oneself.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 13th century – a meaningful mark.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-14th century – a sign of the zodiac.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1440 – to sign one's name.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – an inn or shop sign.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1520s – ''sign of the times''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1700 – to communicate by signs.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1847 – ''sign language''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that indicates the presence of a fact or condition; an [[indication]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A gesture that conveys an idea or command.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A board or notice with words or symbols giving information.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A conventional [[symbol]], as in music or mathematics.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # One of the twelve divisions of the [[zodiac]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # [[sign language|alt=Sign language]].^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To write one's [[signature]] on.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To engage by contract: ''to sign a player''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To communicate with signs or in sign language.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To mark with the sign of the cross.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[signer]]

+ * [[signee]]

+ * [[signless]]

+ * [[signlike]]

+ * [[cosign]]

+ * [[re-sign]]

+ * [[countersign]]

+ * [[signable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[signage]]

+ * [[signatory]]

+ * [[signal]]

+ * [[signature]]

+ * [[signet]]

+ * [[signify]]

+ * [[significant]]

+ * [[assign]]

+ * [[design]]

+ * [[resign]]

+ * [[ensign]]

+ * [[insignia]]

+ * [[seal]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary compares ''sign'' with ''badge'', ''mark'', ''token'', ''symptom'', ''note'' and ''gesture''.^(AHD) In southern English and Isle of Wight dialect ''sign'' was also an aphetic form of ''design'', “to intend”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}