The natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls . . .
are supposed to be stamped with.
Bentley.
2. Especially, the name of any person, written with his own hand,
employed to signify that the writing which precedes accords with his
wishes or intentions; a sign manual; an autograph.
3. (Physiol.) An outward mark by which internal characteristics were
supposed to be indicated.
Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use.
Dr. H. More.
4. (Old Med.) A resemblance between the external characters of a
disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing
between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; -- supposed to
indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.
5. (Mus.) The designation of the key (when not C major, or its
relative, A minor) by means of one or more sharps or flats at the
beginning of the staff, immediately after the clef, affecting all notes
of the same letter throughout the piece or movement. Each minor key has
the same signature as its relative major.
6. (Print.) (a) A letter or figure placed at the bottom of the first
page of each sheet of a book or pamphlet, as a direction to the binder
in arranging and folding the sheets. (b) The printed sheet so marked,
or the form from which it is printed; as, to reprint one or more
signatures.
Star signatures (as A*, 1*) are the same characters, with the addition
of asterisks, used on the first pages of offcuts, as in 12mo sheets.
7. (Pharm.) That part of a prescription which contains the directions
to the patient. It is usually prefaced by S or Sig. (an abbreviation
for the Latin signa, imperative of signare to sign or mark).
Sig"na*ture (?), v. t. To mark with, or as with, a signature or
signatures.
Sig"na*tur`ist (?), n. One who holds to the doctrine of signatures
impressed upon objects, indicative of character or qualities. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
Sign"board` (?), n. A board, placed on or before a shop, office, etc.,
on which ssome notice is given, as the name of a firm, of a business,
or the like.
Sign"er (?), n. One who signs or subscribes his name; as, a memorial
with a hundred signers.
Sig"net (?), n. [OF. signet a signet, F., a bookmark, dim. of signe.
See Sign, n., and cf. Sennet.] A seal; especially, in England, the seal
used by the sovereign in sealing private letters and grants that pass
by bill under the sign manual; -- called also privy signet.