Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman seigne, sengne, singne, sein, seine, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French signe, sine, seing (French signe , sometimes also (see below) seing ) miracle (second half of the 10th cent.), remarkable thing (end of the 10th cent. in a text showing Occitan influence), gesture or motion used to convey information or instructions (beginning of the 12th cent.), each of the twelve equal divisions of the Zodiac (1119), indication, token (late 12th cent.), distinguishing mark, symbol, or device (c1165 as seing , 13th cent. as signe ), pilgrim's sign (1174), distinctive mark used to confirm a document, etc., as authentic (a1180, originally and chiefly as seing ), badge, armorial device (1272 or earlier), indication of the presence or course of a disease or injury (1314), feigned show, pretence (c1340 in faire signe de ), omen, portent (c1350), (usually prearranged) signal acting as the prompt for a particular action (late 14th cent.), conventional symbol (c1400, originally with reference to musical notes and Hebrew vowel pointings; rare before 1564), in Anglo-Norman also banner, standard (second quarter of the 13th cent. or earlier; compare ensign n. and its French etymon), trace (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin signum mark to indicate position, mark of ownership, (in geometry) point, impression of a signet, seal, signet, signet ring, distinguishing mark or feature, nickname, indication, supernatural sign, omen, portent, visible sign or trace, gesture, signal, password, emblem, symbol, token, shop sign, military ensign or standard, statue, image, figure in relief, figure in painting, constellation, division of the zodiac, in post-classical Latin also miraculous sign, miracle (Vetus Latina, Vulgate), sign of the cross (4th cent.), of uncertain origin. Compare Old Occitan senh (12th cent.), Catalan seny (12th cent., now chiefly in sense ‘bell’), signe (14th cent.), Spanish signo (beginning of the 12th cent.), Portuguese signo (1260; also †segno , †syno , etc.), Italian segno , †signo (first half of the 13th cent.), all in a similar range of senses, and also Portuguese senho signal. Compare the earlier doublet senye n. and also earlier token n., both of which show large-scale semantic overlap with this word.The French forms with -e- , -ei- in the first syllable show regular phonological development of the reflex of Latin signum , whereas the French forms with -i- in the first syllable show subsequent influence of the Latin word. In modern French the form seing is now archaic or historical, except in a small number of fixed expressions in legal contexts in sense ‘distinctive mark used to confirm a document as authentic’. A number of senses of classical Latin (and post-classical Latin) signum are after corresponding senses of ancient Greek σῆμα sign (see seme n.), σημεῖον sign (see semiotic adj.). With 9a compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French en signe de , en signe que (both late 13th cent. or earlier). With sign of the cross at Phrases 1 compare post-classical Latin signum crucis (from 7th cent. in British and continental sources), French signe de croix (a1140 in Old French), signe de la croix (a1245 in Old French as signe de la croiz ), and earlier rood-token n. at rood n. Compounds 1.

Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman sener, seingner, sainer, sainier , seiner, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French signer, seigner, seignier, Old French, Middle French siner, signier (French signer ) to bless or consecrate (a person or thing) by making the sign of the cross (c1100, earliest as seignier ), (reflexive) to make the sign of the cross on one's forehead or body (1119, earliest as seignier ), (in passive) (of a characteristic feature) to be present or bestowed (first half of the 12th cent., originally in a translation of Psalm 4:20: compare quot. 1610 at sense 2c), to convey (information or instructions) using a gesture (first half of the 12th cent., earliest as seignier ), to use a gesture to convey information or instructions (c1230), to put a seal upon (a letter or other document) (c1328), to designate, indicate (first quarter of the 14th cent. or earlier), to write one's name, signature, or other distinguishing mark on (a document) (14th cent. or earlier; 1789 in spec. sense relating to assertion of authorship), to render (a document) official by affixing one's signature (second half of the 14th cent. or earlier), to declare or ratify (a state of affairs, as the cessation of a conflict) by writing one's name or signature on a treaty or other official document (1572 or earlier), and its etymon classical Latin signāre to mark with a sign, to mark with writing, to inscribe, to make (a mark), to indicate, to designate, to signify, to emphasize, to stamp (with a figure or design), to make (metal) into money by stamping, to stamp (a coin), to affix a seal to (a letter or other document), to attest by affixing a seal, to fasten or enclose with a seal, in post-classical Latin also to make the sign of the cross (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. in Tertullian), (reflexive) to cross oneself (4th or 5th cent. in Augustine), to invest (a person) with the sign of the cross, in token of joining a crusade (from 13th cent. in British sources) < signum sign n., probably after ancient Greek σημαίνειν to show, signify (see semantic adj.); and partly (ii) < sign n. Compare Old Occitan senhar (12th cent.), signar , Catalan signar , senyar (both 14th cent.), Spanish signar (13th cent.), Italian segnare (13th cent.; also †signare ). Compare earlier sain v., and see discussion at that entry.It is possible that the early Middle English form sene (attested in quot. 1258 at sense 1a) may show an example of sain v.; however, this seems unlikely, given the restricted range of senses of the latter verb. The French forms with -e-, -ei-, -ai- in the first syllable show regular phonological development of the reflex of Latin signum, whereas the French forms siner, signer, signier show subsequent influence of the Latin word. The same phenomenon is found among the parallels in other Romance languages.