signal-service 
army: as, to be assigued to siiiiml-xrrrii-e. 2. 
An organization for the business of signaling. 
See Signal Corps, uudrr .tii/iml. 
signal-tower (sig'nal-ton"er), . A tower from 
which signals are set or displayed, as by ;i snn:i- 
phorc, or by any other means of transmitting 
information or orders to a distance. 
Signatary (sig'na-t*-ri), . and . Same as 
xiijnatvry, 
Signate (sig'uat), . [< L. signntiix, pp. of siij- 
iian; mark, sign: see. lii/n.r."} 1. Designate; de- 
terminate. 2. In entom., having irregular spots 
or marks resembling letters;, lettered Signate 
individual, a definitely designated individual. Signate 
matter [L. unrfin~it *iait(tta, a term of St. Thomas Aqui- 
nas], See matter. Signate predication. See predica- 
tion. 
signation (sig-na'shon), n. [< LL. sii/natio(n-), 
a marking, < L. signare, mark, sign: see sign.'] 
That which is used as a token or sign ; a be- 
tokeument ; an emblem. 
A horseshoe Baptiata Porta hath thought too low a rig- 
nation to be raised unto a lunary representation. 
Sir T. Browne. (Latham.) 
signatory (sig'na-to-ri), n. and a. [<L. ni/jn/i- 
torius, pertaining to sealing, < signare, pp. <>/- 
imtiis, mark, sign: see sign.] I. n. ; pi. signa- 
tories (-riz). One who is bound by signature to 
the terms of an agreement ; specifically, a party 
or state bound jointly with several others by 
the signing of a public treaty or convention. 
The greater the humiliation, too, for Russia, the more 
necessary it was for the other signatories to avoid . . . 
breaches of the treaty of 1866. 
The Nation, Nov. 24, 1870, p. 340. 
II. a. 1. Pertaining to or used in sealing: 
as, a signatory ring. Bailey. [Rare or un- 
used.] 2. That has signed, or signed and 
sealed; bound by signature and seal, as to 
the terms of a contract or agreement: used 
specifically, in the phrase signatory powers, of 
the'sovereign parties to a general treaty or con- 
vention, as that of Paris in 1856, or that of Ber- 
lin in 1878. 
A European Commission, in which the signatory powers 
were to be represented each by one delegate, was to be 
charged with executing the necessary works for clearing 
the mouths of the Danube. 
E. Schuyler, Amer. Diplomacy, p. 302. 
Her majesty's government . . . are compelled to place 
on record their view that it [the action of the Russian 
government as to Batoum] constitutes a violation of the 
Treaty of Berlin unsanctioned by the sit/notary Powers. 
British Blue Boole, Aug. 21, 1886. 
Signature (sig'ua-tur), n. [< F. signature = Sp. 
signatiira = Pg! as-signatura = It. segnatura, 
< ML. signatura, signature, a rescript, < L. 
signare, sign: see sign.'] 1. A distinguishing 
sign, mark, or manifestation; an indicative 
appearance or characteristic, either physical 
or mental ; a condition or quality significant 
of something: as, the signatures of a person's 
temperament seen in his face. [Formerly used, 
with much latitude, but now archaic or tech- 
nical.] 
It .is . . . impossible that the universal and abstract in- 
telligible ideas of the mind, or essences of things, should 
be mere stamps or signatures impressed upon the soul in 
a gross corporeal manner. 
Cudworth, Eternal and Immutable Morality, IV. iii. 13. 
It pleased God to bind man by the signature of laws to 
observe those great natural reasons without which man 
could not arrive at the great end of God's designing. 
Jer. Taylor, Great Exemplar, Pref., p. 9. 
They instantly discover a merciful aspect, and will sin- 
gle out a face wherein they spy the signatures and marks 
of mercy. Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, ii. 2. 
He [the psychologist] recognizes in Quality a primary 
fact of Feeling, and in Quantity a fundamental siynatttre 
of Feeling. 
G. U. Lewes, Probs. of Life and Mind, II. ii. 31. 
Specifically 2. An external natural marking 
upon, or a symbolical appearance or character- 
istic of, a plant, mineral, or other object or sub- 
stance, formerly supposed by the Paracelsians 
(and still by some ignorant persons) to in- 
dicate its special medicinal quality or appro- 
priate use. The medical theoiy based upon this con- 
ception, known as the doctrine of signature*, took note of 
color (as yellow flowers for jaundice and the bloodstone 
for hemorrhage), shape (as that of the roots of mandrake 
and ginseng), various peculiarities of marking, etc. Many 
existing names of plants, minerals, etc., originated from 
this theory. See Moneywort, mandrake, scorpion-grass. 
Also called sign, seal, and siyil. 
Some also, pretending themselues Natures Principal! 
Secretaries, haue found out [in certain plants] . . . Hg. 
natures of Natures owne impression, fitted to their seueral 
and special! vses in Physicke. Punhas, Pilgrimage, p. 505. 
Chymists observe in the book of nature that those sim- 
ples that wear the figure or resemblance (by them termed 
mffnatun) of a distempered part are medicinal for that 
part of that infirmity whose signature they bear. 
Boyle, Style of the Holy Scriptures. 
5625 
Seek out for plants with x'ujimtures, 
To quack of universal cures. 
.S. Uutter, Uudibras, III. i. 323. 
They believed, for example, that the plant called Jew's- 
ear, which does bear a certain resemblance to the human 
ear, was a useful cure for diseases of that organ. This 
doctrine of signatures, as it was called, exercised an enor- 
mous influence on the medicine of the time. 
W. K. Cli/ord, Lectures, I. 130. 
3. The name of a person, or something used 
as representing his name, affixed or appended 
to a writing or the like, either by himself or by 
deputy, as a verification, authentication, or as- 
sent (as to a petition or a pledge). The initials, 
the first or familiar name by which one is known, or the 
mark or sign of the cross, and the like, if affixed by the 
person for that purpose, is a legal signature. A British 
peer uses his title as signature: thus, the Marquis of 
Salisbury signs himself simply "Salisbury." Prelates of 
the Church of England adopt signatures from the Latin* 
i/ral designations of their sees : thus, the Archbishop of 
Canterbury (F.. \V. Benson) signs himself "E. W. Can- 
tuar."; the Bishop of " 
Seesijm, v. t.,2,3. 
op of Oxford (W. Stubbs), "W. Oxon." 
4. In Scota law, a writing formerly prepared and 
presented by a writer to the signet to the baron 
of exchequer, as the ground of a royal grant 
to the person in whose name it was presented. 
This, having in the case of an original charter the sign 
manual of the sovereign, and in other cases the cachet 
appointed by the act of union for Scotland, attached to it, 
became tile warrant of a conveyance under one or other 
of the seals, according to the nature of the subject or the 
object in view. Imp. Diet. 
5. A letter or figure placed by the printer at 
the foot of the first page of every section or 
gathering of a book. The letters begin with A, the fig- 
ures with 1, and follow in regular order on succeeding sec- 
tions. They are intended to aid the binder in folding, col- 
lating, and arranging the sections consecutively. In early 
printed books the signature-mark was often repeated on 
the 3d, 5th, and 7th pages of a section of 16 pages as an 
additional safeguard for the folder : as, A on 1st page, A i 
on 3d, A ii on 5th. and A iv on 7th page. This practice has 
been discontinued except for otfcuts of 12mos, which have 
the signature repeated. 
Hence 6. A sheet; especially, in bookbind- 
ers' use, a sheet after it has been folded and 
is ready to be gathered. 7. In musical nota- 
tion, the signs placed at the beginning of a staff 
to indicate the key (tonality) and the rhythm of 
a piece. The term properly includes the clef (which 
see), since it determines the form of the key-signature. 
Tho key-signature consists of sharps or flats placed upon 
the degrees corresponding to the black digitals of the 
keyboard that are to be used ; their number and position 
show also the position of the key-note. The key-signa- 
ture of a minor key is the same as that of its relative 
;y-8ignature may 
of the piece. In this case a heavy bar is inserted, and 
the sharps or flats that are not to continue in force are 
nullified by cancels (naturals) prefixed to the new signa- 
ture. The key-signatures most in use with the common 
G and F clefs are as follows : 
Some slight variations in the above forms occur. (See 
keyi, key-signature, and circle of keys (under circle).) The 
rhythmical signature, or time-signature, consists of two 
numerals, the upper of which indicates the number of 
principal beats in the measure, and the lower the kind 
of note chosen to represent one such beat. (See rhythm, 
and rhythmical signature (under rhythmical).) The key- 
signature is usually repeated at the beginning of every 
brace ; but the rhythmical signature is given but once. 
8. In entom., a mark resembling a letter; one 
of the marks of a signate surface, 
signaturet (sig'na-tur), v. t. [< signature, .] 
To mark out; distinguish. 
Those who, by the order of Providence and situation of 
life, have been signatured to intellectual professions. 
O. Cheyne. Eegimen, p. 30. (Latham.) 
signature-line (sig'ua-tur-lm), . In in-luting, 
the line at the bottom of the page in which the 
signature-mark is placed. 
Signature-mark (sig'na-tur-mark), n. Same 
as signature, 5. 
signaturist (sig'na-tur-ist), n. [< signature + 
-int.] One who holds to the doctrine of signa- 
tures. See signature, 2. Sir T. Browne. Vulg. 
Err., ii. 6. 
sign-board (sin'bord), M. A board on which 
a notice is fixed, as of one's place of business, 
significancy 
of goods for sale, or of warning against tres- 
pass. 
No swinging sign-board creaked from cottage elm 
To stay his steps with faintness overcome, 
\Yvrdmvorth, Guilt and Sorrow, st. 16. 
signer (si'ner), ii. [< sign + -cr 1 .] One who 
signs ; specifically, one who writes his name as 
a signature : as, the signer of a letter ; to get 
signers to a petition ; the signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence. 
signet (sig'net), . [= D. G. Sw. Dan. signet, 
< F. signet, a signet, seal, stamp, OF. sinet, 
ftignet = Pi', signet = Pg. xinete = It. segnetto, 
< ML. signetum, dim. of L. signtim, a sign, token : 
see sign.'] 1. A seal, especially a private seal, 
used instead of signing the name, or in addition 
to it, for verification of papers or the like. The 
signet in Scotland is a seal by which royal warrants con- 
nected with the administration of justice were formerly 
authenticated. Hence the title of writer* to the signet or 
clerks of the signet, a class of legal practitioners in Edin- 
burgh who formerly had important privileges, which are 
now nearly abolished. They act generally as agents or 
attorneys in conducting causes before the Court of Ses- 
sion. In English administration the signet is one of the 
seals for the authentication of royal grants, which before 
the abolition of the signet-office in 1848 was there affixed 
to documents before passing the privy seal, but it is not 
now required. 
I had my lather's signet in my purse, 
Which was the model of that Danish seal. 
Shalt., Hamlet, v. 2. 49. 
2. The stamp of a signet; an impression made 
by or as if by a signet. 
"But will my lord's commands bear us out if we use 
violence?" " Tush, man ! here is his signet," answered 
Varney. Scott, Kenilworth, xli. 
Ye shrink from the signet of care on my brow. 
Bryant, I cannot forget. 
signeted (sig'net-ed), a. [< signet + -?2.] 
Stamped or marked with a signet. 
signet-ring (sig'net-ring), n. A seal-ring the 
seal of which is a signet, or private seal. 
signifert (sig'ni-fer), n. [< ML. signifer, the zo- 
diac^ L.*((/i/i5)-, sign-bearing, starry, < signitm, 
a mark or token, + ferre, bear, carry.] The zo- 
diac. [A common word with the old astrono- 
mers.] 
Signifer his candels sheweth brighte. 
Chaucer, Troilus, v. 1020. 
Signifiable (sig'ni-fi-a-bl), o. [< signify + -able.'} 
That may be signified ; capable of being repre- 
sented by signs or symbols. 
Now what is it that is directly signifiable in the world 
about us? Evidently, the separate acts and qualities of 
sensible objects, and nothing else. 
Whitney, in Encyc. Brit., XVHI. 766. 
signifiancet, n. [ME. signijtaiin.ee, signefiance, 
< OF. signijiance : see significance."] Same as 
significance. 
A straw lor alle swevenes [dreams'] signifiaunce ! 
Chaucer, Troilus, v. 862. 
And thus ye may knowe whiche were gode men and 
worthy, whan ye se the sigm'Jiaunce of the voyde place. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), i. 60. 
Significance (sig-nif'i-kans), n. [< OF. signifi- 
cance, a later form, partly conformed to the 
L., of signifiance, segnifiance, senefiance (> ME. 
signifiaunce, signefiance) = Pr. signifianza, sig- 
nificansa = It. significanza, < L. significantia, 
meaning, force, energy, significance, < signifi- 
can(t-)s, meaning, significant: see significant.'] 
1. That which is signified; purport; covert 
sense ; real or implied meaning ; that which 
may be inferred in regard to any state of things 
from any circumstance : as, the significance of a 
metaphor, of a chance remark, of a look, of be- 
havior. 2. Importance; more strictly, impor- 
tance as significative of something interesting, 
but also, frequently, importance as affecting 
considerable interests: as, the great significance 
of many small things. 
All their endeavours, either of persuasion or force, are 
of little significance. Bacon, Moral Fables, v., ExpL 
The Rubicon, we know, was a very insignificant stream 
to look at ; its significance lay entirely in certain invisible 
conditions. George Eliot, Middlemarch, Ixxxii. 
You never know what life means till you die : 
Even throughout life, 'tis death that makes life live, 
Gives it whatever the significance. 
Browning, Ring and Book, II. 304. 
3. The character of being significant; force 
of meaning; distinct signification; expressive- 
ness. =Syn. Significance, Signification, Meaning. Mean- 
ing is the most general ; it may apply to persons, but not 
the other words: as, what was his meaning? Significa- 
tion is closer than significance; significance is especially 
the quality of signifying something, while signification is 
generally that which is signified: as, he attached a great 
deal of significance to this fact ; what is the signification 
of -D. C. L. ? 
Significancy (sig-nif i-kaii-si), . [As signifi- 
i-ann' (see -f.i/).] Same as significance: chiefly 
in sense 3 of that word. 
