Chapter 50

Sig"mo*dont (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?; sigma (&?;) + &?;&?;&?;, &?;&?;&?;, a tooth.] (Zoöl.) Any one of a tribe (Sigmodontes) of rodents which includes all the indigenous rats and mice of America. So called from the form of the ridges of enamel on the crowns of the worn molars. Also used adjectively.

{ Sig"moid (?), Sig*moid"al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;; &?;&?;&?; sigma + &?;&?;&?; form, likeness: cf. F. sigmoïde.] Curved in two directions, like the letter S, or the Greek .

Sigmoid flexure (Anat.), the last curve of the colon before it terminates in the rectum. See Illust. under Digestive. -- Sigmoid valves. (Anat.) See Semilunar valves, under Semilunar.

Sig*moid"al*ly, adv. In a sigmoidal manner.

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Sign (?), n. [F. signe, L. signum; cf. AS. segen, segn, a sign, standard, banner, also fr. L. signum. Cf. Ensign, Resign, Seal a stamp, Signal, Signet.] That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof. Specifically: (a) A remarkable event, considered by the ancients as indicating the will of some deity; a prodigy; an omen. (b) An event considered by the Jews as indicating the divine will, or as manifesting an interposition of the divine power for some special end; a miracle; a wonder.

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.

Rom. xv. 19.

It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Ex. iv. 8.

(c) Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.

What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.

Num. xxvi. 10.

(d) Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.

The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves.

Brerewood.

Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory.

Spenser.

(e) A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas. (f) A motion, an action, or a gesture by which a thought is expressed, or a command or a wish made known.

They made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

Luke i. 62.

(g) Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.

Educaters of the deaf distinguish between natural signs, which serve for communicating ideas, and methodical, or systematic, signs, adapted for the dictation, or the rendering, of written language, word by word; and thus the signs are to be distinguished from the manual alphabet, by which words are spelled on the fingers.

(h) A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard. Milton. (i) A lettered board, or other conspicuous notice, placed upon or before a building, room, shop, or office to advertise the business there transacted, or the name of the person or firm carrying it on; a publicly displayed token or notice.

The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.

Macaulay.

(j) (Astron.) The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.

The signs are reckoned from the point of intersection of the ecliptic and equator at the vernal equinox, and are named, respectively, Aries (), Taurus (), Gemini (II), Cancer (), Leo (), Virgo (), Libra (), Scorpio (), Sagittarius (), Capricornus (), Aquarius (), Pisces (). These names were originally the names of the constellations occupying severally the divisions of the zodiac, by which they are still retained; but, in consequence of the procession of the equinoxes, the signs have, in process of time, become separated about 30 degrees from these constellations, and each of the latter now lies in the sign next in advance, or to the east of the one which bears its name, as the constellation Aries in the sign Taurus, etc.

(k) (Alg.) A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign -- (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like. (l) (Med.) An objective evidence of disease; that is, one appreciable by some one other than the patient.

The terms symptom and and sign are often used synonymously; but they may be discriminated. A sign differs from a symptom in that the latter is perceived only by the patient himself. The term sign is often further restricted to the purely local evidences of disease afforded by direct examination of the organs involved, as distinguished from those evidence of general disturbance afforded by observation of the temperature, pulse, etc. In this sense it is often called physical sign.

(m) (Mus.) Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc. (n) (Theol.) That which, being external, stands for, or signifies, something internal or spiritual; -- a term used in the Church of England in speaking of an ordinance considered with reference to that which it represents.

An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

Bk. of Common Prayer.

See the Table of Arbitrary Signs, p. 1924.

Sign manual. (a) (Eng. Law) The royal signature superscribed at the top of bills of grants and letter patent, which are then sealed with the privy signet or great seal, as the case may be, to complete their validity. (b) The signature of one's name in one's own handwriting. Craig. Tomlins. Wharton.

Syn. -- Token; mark; note; symptom; indication; signal; symbol; type; omen; prognostic; presage; manifestation. See Emblem.

Sign (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Signing.] [OE. seinen to bless, originally, to make the sign of the cross over; in this sense fr. ASS. segnian (from segn, n.), or OF. seignier, F. signer, to mark, to sign (in sense 3), fr. L. signare to mark, set a mark upon, from signum. See Sign, n.] 1. To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.

I signed to Browne to make his retreat.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.

We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.

Bk. of Com Prayer.

3. To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.

Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deed, And let him sign it.

Shak.

4. To assign or convey formally; -- used with away.

5. To mark; to make distinguishable. Shak.

Sign (?), v. i. 1. To be a sign or omen. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.

3. To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.

Sign"a*ble (?), a. Suitable to be signed; requiring signature; as, a legal document signable by a particular person.

Sig"nal (?), n. [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.] 1. A sign made for the purpose of giving notice to a person of some occurence, command, or danger; also, a sign, event, or watchword, which has been agreed upon as the occasion of concerted action.

All obeyed The wonted signal and superior voice Of this great potentate.

Milton.

2. A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.

The weary sun . . . Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow.

Shak.

There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen.

De Foc.

Sig"nal, a. [From signal, n.: cf. F. signalé.] 1. Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence.

As signal now in low, dejected state As erst in highest, behold him where he lies.

Milton.

2. Of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer.

The signal service, a bureau of the government (in the United States connected with the War Department) organized to collect from the whole country simultaneous raports of local meteorological conditions, upon comparison of which at the central office, predictions concerning the weather are telegraphed to various sections, where they are made known by signals publicly displayed. -- Signal station, the place where a signal is displayed; specifically, an observation office of the signal service.

Syn. -- Eminent; remarkable; memorable; extraordinary; notable; conspicuous.

Sig"nal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signaled (&?;) or Signalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Signaling or Signalling.] 1. To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders.

2. To notify by a signals; to make a signal or signals to; as, to signal a fleet to anchor. M. Arnold.

Sig"nal*ist, n. One who makes signals; one who communicates intelligence by means of signals.

Sig*nal"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being signal or remarkable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sig"nal*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Signalizing (?).] [From Signal, a.] 1. To make signal or eminent; to render distinguished from what is common; to distinguish.

It is this passion which drives men to all the ways we see in use of signalizing themselves.

Burke.

2. To communicate with by means of a signal; as, a ship signalizes its consort.

3. To indicate the existence, presence, or fact of, by a signal; as, to signalize the arrival of a steamer.

Sig"nal*ly, adv. In a signal manner; eminently.

Sig"nal*man (?), n.; pl. -men (&?;). A man whose business is to manage or display signals; especially, one employed in setting the signals by which railroad trains are run or warned.

Sig"nal*ment (?), n. The act of signaling, or of signalizing; hence, description by peculiar, appropriate, or characteristic marks. Mrs. Browning.

Sig"nate (?), a. [L. signatus, p. p. See Sign, v. t.] (Zoöl.) Having definite color markings.

Sig*na"tion (?), n. [L. signatio. See Sign, v. t.] Sign given; marking. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Sig"na*to*ry (?), a. [L. signatorius.] 1. Relating to a seal; used in sealing. [Obs.] Bailey.

2. Signing; joining or sharing in a signature; as, signatory powers.

Sig"na*to*ry, n.; pl. - ries (&?;). A signer; one who signs or subscribes; as, a conference of signatories.

Sig"na*ture (?), n. [F. (cf. It. signatura, segnatura, Sp. & LL. signatura), from L. signare, signatum. See Sign, v. t.] 1. A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal.

The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures, and images.

I. Watts.

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.

I had my father's signet in my purse.

Shak.

Signet ring, a ring containing a signet or private seal. -- Writer to the signet (Scots Law), a judicial officer who prepares warrants, writs, etc.; originally, a clerk in the office of the secretary of state.

Sig"net*ed, a. Stamped or marked with a signet.

Sig"ni*fer (?), a. [L., from signum sign + ferre to bear.] Bearing signs. [Obs.] "The signifer sphere, or zodiac." Holland.

{ Sig*nif"i*cance (?), Sig*nif"i*can*cy (?) }, n. [L. significantia.] 1. The quality or state of being significant.

2. That which is signified; meaning; import; as, the significance of a nod, of a motion of the hand, or of a word or expression.

3. Importance; moment; weight; consequence.

With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and value to the few facts which I possess.

De Quincey.

Sig*nif"i*cant (?), a. [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.] 1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look.

It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient.

Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event.

Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number, or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.

Sig*nif"i*cant, n. That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol. Wordsworth.

In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.

Shak.

Sig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv. In a significant manner.

Sig*nif"i*cate (?), n. [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. See Signify.] (Logic) One of several things signified by a common term. Whately.

Sig`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [F. signification, L. significatio.] 1. The act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means.

A signification of being pleased.

Landor.

All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or addres of one man to another.

South.

2. That which is signified or made known; that meaning which a sign, character, or token is intended to convey; as, the signification of words.

Sig*nif"i*ca*tive (?), a. [L. significativus: cf. F. significatif.] 1. Betokening or representing by an external sign.

The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative.

Brerewood.

2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose; significant.

Neither in the degrees of kindred they were destitute of significative words.

Camden.

-- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ly, adv. -- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ness, n.

Sig"ni*fi*ca`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. significateur.] One who, or that which, signifies.

In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably upon our astrologer's attention.

Sir W. Scott.

Sig*nif"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [L. significatorius.] Significant. -- n. That which is significatory.

||Sig`ni*fi*ca"vit (?), n. [L., (he) has signified, perf. ind. of ||significare to signify.] (Eng. Eccl. Law) Formerly, a writ issuing ||out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's ||standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him ||up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church. ||Crabb.

Sig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Signifying (?).] [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.] 1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present.

I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you.

Shak.

The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.

Swift.

2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.

He bade her tell him what it signified.

Chaucer.

A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

Shak.

Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance.

Syn. -- To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean.

Sign"ior (?), n. Sir; Mr. The English form and pronunciation for the Italian Signor and the Spanish Señor.

Sign"ior*ize (?), v. t. [See Seigniorize.] To exercise dominion over; to lord it over. [Obs.] Shelton.

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Sign"ior*ize (sn"yr*z), v. i. To exercise dominion; to seigniorize. [Obs.] Hewyt.

Sign"ior*ship, n. State or position of a signior.

Sign"ior*y (-), n. Same as Seigniory.

{ ||Si*gnor" (?), ||Si*gno"re (?) }, n. [It. See Seignior.] Sir; Mr.; -- a title of address or respect among the Italians. Before a noun the form is Signor.

||Si*gno"ra (?), n. [It.] Madam; Mrs; -- a title of address or respect ||among the Italians.

||Si`gno*ri"na (?), n. [It.] Miss; -- a title of address among the ||Italians.

Sign"post` (?), n. A post on which a sign hangs, or on which papers are placed to give public notice of anything.

{ Sik (?), Sike (?), } a. Such. See Such. [Obs.] "Sike fancies weren foolerie." Spenser.

Sike (?), n. [AS. sc. Cf. Sig.] A gutter; a stream, such as is usually dry in summer. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Sike, n. [See Sick.] A sick person. [Prov. Eng.]

Sike, v. i. To sigh. [Obs.]

That for his wife weepeth and siketh sore.

Chaucer.

Sike, n. A sigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Sik"er (?), a. & adv., Sik"er*ly, adv., Sik"er*ness, n., etc.} See 2d Sicker, Sickerly, etc. [Obs.]

Sikhs (?), n. pl.; sing. Sikh (&?;). [Hind. Sikh, properly, a disciple.] A religious sect noted for warlike traits, founded in the Punjab at the end of the 15th century.

Si"lage (?), n. & v. Short for Ensilage.

Sile (?), v. t. [Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. &radic;151a. See Silt.] To strain, as fresh milk. [Prov. Eng.]

Sile, v. i. To drop; to flow; to fall. [Prov. Eng.]

Sile, n. 1. A sieve with fine meshes. [Prov. Eng.]

2. Filth; sediment. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Sile, n. [Icel. sld herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf. Sill the young of a herring.] (Zoöl.) A young or small herring. [Eng.] Pennant.

Si"lence (?), n. [F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent.]

1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness.

I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep.

Milton.

2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness.

3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence.

The administration itself keeps a profound silence.

D. Webster.

4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence.

5. Absence of mention; oblivion.

And what most merits fame, in silence hid.

Milton.

Si"lence, interj. Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak.

Si"lence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Silenced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing (?).] 1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush.

Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle.

Shak.

2. To put to rest; to quiet.

This would silence all further opposition.

Clarendon.

These would have silenced their scruples.

Rogers.

3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel.

The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity.

B. Trumbull.

4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy.

Si*le"ne (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus.] (Bot.) A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly.

Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary.

Si"lent (?), a. [L. silens, - entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana- silan.] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.

How silent is this town!

Shak.

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.

Broome.

This new-created world, whereof in hell Fame is not silent.

Milton.

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [R.]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant.

Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn.

Si"lent, n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [R.] "The silent of the night." Shak.

Si*len"ti*a*ry (s*ln"sh**r), n. [L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. See Silence.] One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secrets of state.

Si*len"tious (?), a. [L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux.] Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [R.]

Si"lent*ly (?), adv. In a silent manner.

Si"lent*ness, n. State of being silent; silence.

Si*le"nus (?), n. [L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus.] (Zoöl.) See Wanderoo.

Si*le"si*a (?), n. 1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia.

2. A twilled cotton fabric, used for dress linings.

Si*le"si*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Silesia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Silesia.

Si"lex (?), n. [L., a finit, a pebblestone.] (Min.) Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic.

Sil`hou*ette" (?), n. [F.; -- so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.] A representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.

Sil`hou*ette", v. t. To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette. [Recent]

A flock of roasting vultures silhouetted on the sky.

The Century.

Sil"i*ca (?), n. [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.] (Chem.) Silicon dioxide, SiO&?;. It constitutes ordinary quartz (also opal and tridymite), and is artifically prepared as a very fine, white, tasteless, inodorous powder.

Sil"i*cate (?), n.[Cf. F. silicate.] (Chem.) A salt of silicic acid.