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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sign(e, Sing(e, v. Also: sygn(e, synge, singne, syn(e, sind, se(i)gn(e, seinge. Pres. t. also syence. P.p. freq. -et, also synned. [ME and e.m.E. signe(n (c1305), syne (1530), sign (1601), OF seignier (1080), signer, singner (14th c.), siner (15th c.) (Wartburg), L. signāre; Sign(e n.]

I. 1. intr. To make a sign or signal to (a person), to indicate by a sign. Also const. indirect object. a1500 Seven S. 2332.
Than subtelly scho couth him syne For to cum neir c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke i 22.
He beknyt (or synet) [P. bikenyde] to thame, and he duelt still dommbe c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke i 62.
Thai synet [P. bikeneden; L. innuebant] to his fadere, quhat he wald [etc.] 1616 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Maitl. C. II 189.
She still continewit dumb going about and deceaveing the people synding telling and foir shawing thame quhat they had done 1661 Elgin Rec. II 295.
He synned to the mother to come privatlie to the chamber

b. tr. To indicate; to signify. Const. clause object. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 620 (H).
His asse eares, they signe … The frantick fooll shall grow made 1695 Seafield Corr. 161.
Your Lordships letter, wherin yee signe yt yee have [etc.]

2. reflex. To make the sign of the cross, to cross (oneself). Cf. Sain(e v. 1562-3 Winȝet I 118/22.
The … use quhilk he had … to signe him with the croce

3. To put a distinguishing mark on, to mark with a sign, in senses 4 and 2 e of Sign(e n. c1450-2 Howlat 372 (A) (see Sign(e n. 4).
Sygnet — c1550-c1580 Art of Music 13b.
Thir circlis … beand singnat and the quantateis of tham declarit

II. 4. tr. To attest, confirm, authorise or authenticate by the addition of a signature; to affix one's name to (a document, etc.). Also const. with one's (own) hand. Also absol.pres. 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 40.
That na … letteres … salbe … subscryvit without the samin be brocht to my Lord Governour … and that of the samin pertinit to the thesaurer … the compositioun thairof sal be maid be the thesaurer and siclik present with my lord and the counsall or ever the said thesaurer syence the samin … to my Lord Governour 1659 Douglas Corr. 267.
I desyred your lordship to singe thos papers 1659 Douglas Corr. 268.
Sing(b) 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 604.
His refussing to seinge the declarationeabsol. or ellipt. 1697 Annandale Corr. 322.
A peaper drauen at London and send heer to syngep.p. 1489–90 Acta Conc. I 129/1.
Ane sentence diffinitiue vnder the sele of … Andro bischop of Orknay & signit witht Sir William Lamb noter public 1579 T. Lamb Officers of Arms.
The autentick copie of the said letteres with the executionnis subscrivit and signet as is abonewrittin 1580 Reg. Privy S. VII 429/2.
[Letters] registrat in the schireff buikis of Ranfrew notit and markit as alsua signet be Johnne Maxwell, notar publict and schiref clerk 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 271.
[The] Book of Raites … sett downe and signet be his Majesteis awne hand and subscryvit be the saidis lordis c1630 Hope Minor Practicks (1726) 86.
All signatures … are … subscribed and signet by the king, either with his own hand, or by a cashet(b) 1517 Douglas Chart. 387.
In wittenes wherof to this my writtinge singned with myne aune hande 1652 Aberd. Council Lett. III 206.
Ane ordor signit be Saltenstall … at Leith(c) 1689 Melville Corr. 121.
Ane other letter … syned be thrie of Lord Angus captains(d) 1640 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 174.
His discharge of the voluntarie contrabutione resaved … sindit with his hand

b. With the signatory's name as object. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 16.
A letter … from the Queine of Suedin segned Cristina 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 17.
Tuo letters from France … One … seigned Lewis

c. With the matter treated in the document signed as object. 1654 Lamont Diary 78.
Ther was a peace singed and sealed betuixt the English and the Hollander

5. To put a seal upon. b. To stamp with the Signet. = Signet v. b.Some examples given in sense 4 may belong here.a. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. xxii 10.
Signe [P. signe; L. Ne signaveris] (or sele) thou nocht wordis of prophecie of this buke; for the tyme is nereb. 1540 Acts (1597) i 116.
That na indorsation sall haue faith … bot they that ar signed with the saids signettes