seal
pronunciation
How to pronounce seal in British English:
UK [siːl]
How to pronounce seal in American English:
US [siːl]
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- Noun:
- fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
- a device incised to make an impression; used to secure a closing or to authenticate documents
- the pelt or fur (especially the underfur) of a seal
- a stamp affixed to a document (as to attest to its authenticity or to seal it)
- an indication of approved or superior status
- a finishing coat applied to exclude moisture
- fastener that provides a tight and perfect closure
- any of numerous marine mammals that come on shore to breed; chiefly of cold regions
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- Verb:
- close with or as if with a seal
- make tight; secure against leakage
- decide irrevocably
- affix a seal to
- cover with varnish
- hunt seals
Word Origin
- seal
- seal: Seal the animal [OE] and seal ‘impressed mark, closure’ [13] are of course different words. The former goes back to a prehistoric Germanic *selkhaz, a word of unknown origin which also produced Swedish säl and Danish sæl. The latter was borrowed from Anglo- Norman seal, a descendant of Latin sigillum. This, a diminutive form of signum (from which English gets sign), meant ‘little mark or picture’, and came to be used for such a mark distinctive of a particular person.=> sign, signal
- seal (n.1)
- "design stamped on wax," especially one attached to a document as evidence of authenticity, c. 1200, from Old French seel "seal on a letter" (Modern French sceau), from Vulgar Latin *sigellum (source of Italian suggello, Spanish sello; also Old Frisian and Middle High German sigel, German Siegel), from Latin sigillum "small picture, engraved figure, seal," diminutive of signum "mark, token" (see sign (n.)). An earlier borrowing directly from Latin is represented by Old English insigel. Technical use, "what prevents the escape of a gas or liquid" is from 1853.
- seal (n.2)
- fish-eating mammal with flippers, Old English seolh "seal," from Proto-Germanic *selkhaz (compare Old Norse selr, Swedish sjöl, Danish sæl, Middle Low German sel, Middle Dutch seel, Old High German selah), of unknown origin, perhaps a borrowing from Finnic. Seal point "dark brown marking on a Siamese cat" is recorded from 1934, from the dark brown color of seal fur; compare seal brown "rich, dark brown color," by 1875. Old English seolhbæð, literally "seal's bath," was an Anglo-Saxon kenning for "the sea."
- seal (v.)
- "to fasten with (or as with) a seal," c. 1200, from seal (n.1). Meaning "to place a seal on (a document)" is recorded from mid-14c.; hence "to conclude, ratify, render official" (late 15c.). Sense of "to close up with wax, lead, cement, etc." is attested from 1660s, from the notion of wax seals on envelopes. In reference to the actions of wood-coatings, 1940. Related: Sealed; sealing. Sealing-wax is attested from c. 1300. To seal (one's) fate (1799) probably reflects the notion of a seal on an execution warrant.
Example
- 1. A baby harp seal rests on the arctic ice .
- 2. Never seal wood or other high moisture cellulose products in a barrier bag environment .
- 3. Equal membership in a club of nations was a seal of sovereignty .
- 4. It will seal our national fate .
- 5. They unceremoniously seal yume up , still wearing her funky costume .