signo Latin · revision 3737

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sek(h₂)-no-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsɪŋ.noː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsiɲ.ɲo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''signō''' (present infinitive signāre, perfect active signāvī, supine signātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is derived from [[signum|alt=sīgnum]] “mark, sign”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The noun is [[itc-pro|*sekno-]], from [[ine-pro|*sek(h₂)-no-|t=something cut out]], from the root of [[seco|alt=secō]] “to cut”, with a change of meaning from “carved mark” to “sign”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) who has someone mark the place where a casket fell.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to mark with a sign, as Plautus' marked spot, to leave a trace on, as Horace's child who marks the ground with a steady foot, and to point out or indicate, as Virgil's arrow that marked its path with flame.^(OLD 2012) It meant to make known, to draw attention to, and to stamp with a figure, as Ovid's wax stamped with new shapes.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It meant to coin money, as in Cicero's laws and in Livy, and to seal a letter or document, as Plautus' letters sealed with pitch.^(OLD 2012) English ''sign'' came partly from it, through Old English ''segnian'' and Old French, in the early 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of marking a spot and of sealing letters.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of coining money.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of an arrow marking its path.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''sign'' (“make the sign of the cross”) is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|mark]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To leave a trace on.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To point out, indicate.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make known, express.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To emphasise by a sign.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To stamp (with a figure).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To coin (money).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|seal]] (a document).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[assignō]]

+ * [[circumsignō]]

+ * [[cōnsignō]]

+ * [[dēsignō]]

+ * [[exsignō]]

+ * [[obsignō]]

+ * [[persignō]]

+ * [[praesignō]]

+ * [[resignō]]

+ * [[signāculum]]

+ * [[signātim]]

+ * [[signatio]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[signum]]

+ * [[en|sign]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}