sign

English

/saɪn/

noun
Definitions
  • (sometimes) A visible indication.
  • (North America) Physical evidence left by an animal.
  • A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
  • A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
  • (astrology) An astrological sign.
  • (mathematics) Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
  • A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
  • (uncountable) sign Sign language in general.
  • An omen.
  • (medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.
  • A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English signe inherited from Old English seġn (sign, mark, token) derived from Old French signe derived from Latin signum (sign, token, a mark, mark, a sign, an emblem) root from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (follow, say, see, notice, accompany, track).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*sekʷ-

Gloss

follow, say, see, notice, accompany, track

Concept
Semantic Field

Motion

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

見

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms