signalizev.
/ˈsɪɡnəlʌɪz/, /ˈsɪɡnl̩ʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈsɪɡnəˌlaɪz/ 1.
a. transitive. To make noteworthy or remarkable, to distinguish, esp. by a striking action or event. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > render worthy of notice
signalize1613
supereminence1647
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > state of being noteworthy or remarkable > render noteworthy [verb (transitive)]
distinguea1340
point1532
distinguish1600
signalize1613
to stand out1911
1613 H. Wotton Let. in L. P. Smith Life & Lett. Sir. H. Wotton (1907) II. 17 The day was signalized with no extraordinary accident.
1654 R. Flecknoe Ten Years Trav. 102 Let none ever hope the like advantages, that are not signaliz'd by some remarkable qualities.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. i. 21 The death of Germanicus was signaliz'd by another [meteor].
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xli. 425 She named Whitgift.., who had already signalised his pen in controversy.
1798 C. Cruttwell New Universal Gazetteer II. at Luncarty This place is signalized by the great victory obtained by the Scots over the Danes, in 970.
1861 T. E. May Constit. Hist. Eng. (1863) I. i. 45 This debate was signalised by the opposition speech of Sir Fletcher Norton, the Speaker.
1883 Contemp. Rev. 44 7 Leo the Tenth..desired to signalize his reign by building the grandest church in the world.
1922 H. S. Salt Call of Wildflower vi. 55 It is a sober-garbed little flower, with not much except its rarity to signalize it.
b. transitive. To make known or display (a quality, attribute, or feeling) in a striking manner, esp. by a noteworthy action. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > [verb (transitive)] > strikingly
to set out1577
illustrate1603
to stick off1613
signalize1624
to draw out1855
spotlight1907
highlight1922
limelight1927
1624 J. Reynolds Vox Cœli Ded. sig. B2v Let vs all signaliz our fidelities to our Soueraigne by our courage.
1703 G. Farquhar Twin-rivals iii. i. 30 Has he ever signalis'd his Courage?
a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) X. 146 The final issue of God's dealing with such as have signalized their patience.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. x. 233 He was desirous of signalizing his talents in some enterprize.
a1806 C. J. Fox Hist. James II (1808) 125 The parliament opened..with an enthusiastick zeal, to signalize their loyalty.
1851 N. Hawthorne House of Seven Gables v. 91 Little Ned Wiggins..to-day had signalized his omnivorous prowess by swallowing two dromedaries and a locomotive.
1916 Times 4 Jan. 11/6 He recently suggested that by way of signalizing the bravery and loyalty of the Indian forces of the Crown a regiment of Indian Guards should be raised.
1948 Times 26 Feb. 6/4 He first signalized his originality and courage by going to Berlin as a correspondent..in August, 1914.
c. transitive (reflexive). To distinguish oneself, esp. by a notable action or quality. Formerly also with †from. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > state of being noteworthy or remarkable > render noteworthy [verb (reflexive)]
signalize1638
1638 W. Barwick tr. V. D'Audiguier Love & Valour Ded. sig. a2v I..may leave to posterity, works more worthy..the desire I have to signallize me.
1654 Earl of Monmouth tr. G. Bentivoglio Compl. Hist. Warrs Flanders 289 There were two Captains of Launces with the Prince who had particular occasion to signalize themselves [It. segnalarsi].
1689 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 577 A list of the officers in Derry that signalized themselves against the enemy.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 77. ⁋5 A thousand extravagancies, by which they would signalize themselves from others.
1763 J. Brown Diss. Poetry & Music iv. 37 Among the savage Tribes, the Chiefs are they who most signalize themselves by Dance and Song.
1813 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers (1850) I. xii. 324 Let me make a point of bringing forward nothing in conversation for the purpose of signalising myself.
1869 J. Tyndall Notes 9 Lect. on Light §462 Gypsum possesses three planes of cleavage,..one of which particularly signalizes itself by its perfection.
1900 Times 2 Jan. 12/7 One of these entered the artillery, and signalized himself not only by his scientific prowess, but by an act of great heroism in the Indian Mutiny.
1920 Catholic World Feb. 639 Herriot, another valiant Catholic..signalized himself by his charitable endeavors.
2. transitive. To characterize or mark conspicuously; to be a distinguishing feature of. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > inhere in or be an attribute of [verb (transitive)] > characterize
distinguish1600
stamp1600
denominate1616
define1633
marka1661
signalize1698
stamp1837
keynote1877
society > communication > indication > that which identifies or distinguishes > identify or distinguish [verb (transitive)] > conspicuously
singularize1593
signalize1698
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 95 Their Habit is the main thing that signalizes them more than their Virtue.
1743 J. Davidson tr. Virgil Georgics iii. in Wks. Virgil I. 147 Pelops signalized by his Ivory Shoulder.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations II. v. i. 293 The inhabitants..have been frequently united..and the havock and devastation of Asia have always signalized their union. View more context for this quotation
1817 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. II. 241 The symbol of death which signalizes its thorax.
1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) xi. 160 Such tyrannous acts as we thus find to have signalized the Anglo-Norman reigns.
1917 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. June 757 All the gains of science that make for progress and all the achievements of the arts that signalize it are being diverted from their beneficent purposes.
1960 E. J. McGrath in J. Newcomer et al. Liberal Educ. & Pharmacy i. 17 Cultivating the attitudes and the traits of character which signalize the liberally educated mind.
3. transitive. To point out, note or mention specially, draw attention to. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > engage the attention [verb (transitive)] > direct attention
signalize1698
to call attention to1729
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > render outstanding
aggravate1549
accent1595
to lay weight upon1600
emphase1631
circumflect1643
to lay (also place, put) stress on (also upon)1653
to set home1656
forestall1657
circumflex1661
signalize1698
to lay stress, weight, emphasis on or upon1748
emphasize1793
accentuate1817
stress1845
to rub in1851
to draw out1855
underline1880
punctuate1883
peak1887
underscore1891
to point up1926
1698 R. Jenkin Reasonableness & Certainty Christian Relig. i. ii. 38 As God mention'd Cyrus by Name to be the Deliverer of the Jews, so he might by Miracle signalize this Prince who was to destroy them.
a1711 T. Ken Wks. (1721) I. 131 Our Lord..At John's request the Traytor signaliz'd.
1835 W. Hamilton in Edinb. Rev. Jan. 430 Not a single voice was raised in either House to signalize the mis~statement.
1870 ‘Ouida’ Puck II. viii. 152 I was greeted by loud shouts of laughter from all present, including the man I signalized.
1885 E. S. Ffoulkes Primitive Consecration viii. 379 The Gallican spirit breathing throughout his works has been already signalised.
1920 in Amritsar Massacre (2000) i. 33 We do not omit to notice and to signalise the fact that some Indian citizens were doing their best to reason with the crowds.
1956 W. S. Churchill Hist. Eng.-speaking Peoples I. v This expression rex Anglorum is rightly signalised by historians as a milestone in our history.
4.
a. transitive. Chiefly Nautical. To make signals to; to communicate with by means of a signal or signals. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > signal (something) [verb (transitive)] > signal to (a person)
signal1805
telegraph1808
signalize1874
1805 Ld. Nelson Let. 17 Sept. in Dispatches & Lett. (1846) VII. 40 I am now signalising the Ships at Plymouth to join me.
1857 R. Tomes Americans in Japan vii. 153 Two guns were fired..for the purpose probably of signalizing the authorities at the Capital.
1874 J. G. Holland Mistress of Manse xix. 75 She saw a stalwart man arise..And pause a breath, to signalize Some one beyond her stinted view.
1904 Atlantic Monthly Aug. 221/2 Seems's though Sammy cal'lated to slip and git under way soon's ever Ezry signalized him, Advents or no Advents!
b. transitive. Chiefly Nautical. To announce or communicate (a fact, message, etc.) by a signal or signals. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > [verb (transitive)]
tokenc888
sayOE
tellc1175
note?c1225
signifyc1275
notifyc1390
signc1390
ossc1400
testify1445
point1477
betoken1486
indike?1541
demonstrate1558
to give show of1567
argue1585
portend1590
speak1594
denotate1597
denote1597
evidence1610
instance1616
bespeak1629
resent1638
indict1653
notificate1653
indicate1706
exhibit1799
to body forth1821
signalize1825
to speak for ——1832
index1862
signal1866
1825 G. F. Lyon in Monthly Rev. May 52 After having shewn our number, and signalized that we had lost all our anchors and cables, we ran into the harbour in a heavy squall.
1852 R. Maguire Jrnl. 7 Aug. (1988) I. 65 H.M.S. Amphitrite signalised that boats were safe at Icy Cape.
1874 F. G. D. Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. vi. 172 Who would then signalize to them where they might safest attempt to land.
1937 Life 16 Aug. 42/1 (caption) To signalize ‘children’, the left hand makes a patting motion while the right moves down to indicate varying ages.
c. intransitive. To make or send signals; to communicate by means of a signal or signals. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > signalling > make signals [verb (intransitive)]
fugle1837
signalize1838
signal1845
1838 T. H. James Six Months S. Austral. 232 Our dark friends were signalizing to their neighbours; shortly afterwards we heard a low ‘cooe’ from the opposite side of the river.
1853 C. C. Felton Let. 26 Apr. in Familiar Lett. Europe (1865) i. 8 We have signalized to Liverpool by way of Holyhead.
1906 Caledonian Mar. 28/1 There go the parsons and newspapers, all signalizing and taking soundings, and a-hollerin' and a-botherin'.
5. transitive. To indicate; to be a sign or signal of (esp. something new or previously unknown).
ΚΠ
1808 Times 18 Oct. 3/3 Marshal Ney purposed to signalise by this coup-de-main his entrance into the field in Spain.
1831 H. Gordon Considerations War Poland 55 It signalized the entry of this vicious spirit [of hatred and hostility to the policy of the European community] into the heart of Europe.
1894 H. S. Merriman With Edged Tools xvi. 111 The remark had made a distinct impression on him. It signalized a new departure—the attack at a fresh quarter.
1928 W. Deeping Old Pybus 19 His father's putting-up of the shutters had signalized a voluntary bankruptcy.
1964 W. H. Dray Philos. Hist. 53 The willingness of the revisionists to apportion blame, however, does not signalize a return to the sectional type of partisanship.
2008 M. H. Kater Never sang for Hitler iv. 162 That was the official death knell for her planned recital in Berlin, and it signalized that the Prussian government had briefed the Reich Propaganda Ministry.
6. transitive. Chiefly North American. To provide (an intersection, etc.) with traffic signals.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > vehicular traffic > [verb (transitive)] > provide with traffic signals
signalize1926
1926 Spartanburg (S. Carolina) Herald 2 Oct. The cost of traffic in the cities is greater than the cost of widening, signalizing and otherwise improving the roads.
1960 Los Angeles Times 20 Mar. viii. 5/5 (headline) County to Signalize W. Covina Crossings.
2010 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Jrnl. Sentinel (Nexis) 11 Feb. 1 We are going to realign the end of the off ramp and signalize that intersection.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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