Dictionary

signet en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɪɡ.nɪt/ (Australia, Canada, UK, US)
• (California) audio

Etymology

From Old French signet (“small seal”), from Medieval Latin signētum, diminutive of Latin signum (“sign”).

Meanings

1. (historical) An object (especially a ring) formerly used to impress a picture into the sealing wax of a document as a proof of its origin.
   • To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, A signet, a fan-mount, a filigree basket! 1844, Robert Browning, The Laboratory:
   • I had my fathers Signet in my Purse, / Which was the Modell of that Danish Seale: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:

Forms

Deriveds

signeted · signet ring

Relateds

signal · seal · siglum · signature

Translations (15)

fi sinettileimasin (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · es sello (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · fi sinetti (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · pl sygnet (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · fi sinettisormus (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · de Signet (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · pt sinete (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · grc σφραγίς (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · ru печа́тка (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · uk печа́тка (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · ca segell (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · eo sigelringo (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · ota خاتم (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · bg личен печат (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax) · sv sigill (object used to impress a picture into sealing wax)