sign

pronunciation

How to pronounce sign in British English: UK [saɪn] word uk audio image

How to pronounce sign in American English: US [saɪn] word us audio image

Noun:

a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
a public display of a (usually written) message
any communication that encodes a message
structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease
having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)
an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
a gesture that is part of a sign language
a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified
a character indicating a relation between quantities
Verb:

mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
be engaged by a written agreement
engage by written agreement
communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
place signs, as along a road
communicate in sign language
make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Adjective:

used of the language of the deaf

Word Origin

sign: sign: [13] Sign comes via Old French signe from Latin signum ‘mark’. It already had the meaning ‘mark denoting something’ in Latin, and it was in this sense that it entered English, gradually ousting the native word token. The verb sign goes back ultimately to the Latin derivative signāre ‘mark’. English acquired it in the 14th century, and first used it for ‘write one’s name’ in the 15th century.Other related forms in English include assign [14], consign [15], design, ensign [14], insignia [17], resign [14] (in which the prefix re- has the force of ‘un-’), seal ‘wax impression, fastening’, signal, signatory [17], signature [16], signet [14], significant [16], and signify [13].The ultimate source of Latin signum is uncertain. It was once assumed to go back to the Indo-European base *sek- ‘cut’ (source of English saw, section, etc), as if it denoted etymologically a ‘cut mark’, but now Indo-European *seq- ‘point out’, hence ‘say, tell’ (source of English say) is viewed as a more likely ancestor.=> assign, consign, design, ensign, insignia, resign, seal, signal, signature, significant

sign (n.): early 13c., "gesture or motion of the hand," especially one meant to communicate something, from Old French signe "sign, mark," from Latin signum "identifying mark, token, indication, symbol; proof; military standard, ensign; a signal, an omen; sign in the heavens, constellation," according to Watkins, literally "standard that one follows," from PIE *sekw-no-, from root *sekw- (1) "to follow" (see sequel). Ousted native token. Meaning "a mark or device having some special importance" is recorded from late 13c.; that of "a miracle" is from c. 1300. Zodiacal sense in English is from mid-14c. Sense of "characteristic device attached to the front of an inn, shop, etc., to distinguish it from others" is first recorded mid-15c. Meaning "token or signal of some condition" (late 13c.) is behind sign of the times (1520s). In some uses, the word probably is a shortening of ensign. Sign language is recorded from 1847; earlier hand-language (1670s).

sign (v.): c. 1300, "to make the sign of the cross," from Old French signier "to make a sign (to someone); to mark," from Latin signare "to set a mark upon, mark out, designate; mark with a stamp; distinguish, adorn;" figuratively "to point out, signify, indicate," from signum (see sign (n.)). Sense of "to mark, stamp" is attested from mid-14c.; that of "to affix one's name" is from late 15c. Meaning "to communicate by hand signs" is recorded from 1700. Related: Signed; signing.

vt.

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