sigil
(ˈsɪdʒɪl)
Also 7 sigill.
[ad. late L. sigillum (in class. L. sigilla neut. pl.), dim. of signum: see sign n.]
1. A seal or signet. Also attrib., as sigil-mark.
| a 1610 Parsons Leicester's Ghost (1641) 14 Giges went invisible By turning of the sigill of his Ring Toward his palme. 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 132 Another figure..imprinted by some sigil. 1814 Cary Dante, Par. xxvii. 48 Sigil-mark Set upon sold and lying privileges. 1880 Webb Goethe's Faust i. i. 41 A book with sevenfold sigil is the Past! 1883 A. Dobson Old World Idylls 243 Touched by the awful sigil of his right. |
2. Astrol. An occult sign or device supposed to have mysterious powers.
| 1659 T. Pecke Parnassi Puerp. 153 Love scorns, that any Remora should be: That's the true Sigil, moving Gallantrie. 1672 Sir T. Browne Let. Friend §131 Amulets, spells, sigils, and incantations, practised in other diseases, are seldom pretended in this. 1711 Pope Temple of Fame 105 Of Talismans and Sigils [they] knew the pow'r, And careful watch'd the Planetary hour. 1813 Scott Trierm. i. vi. Sign and sigil well doth he know. 1842 Barham Ingold. Leg. Ser. ii. Raising the Devil, He drew the mystic circle's bound,..He traced full many a sigil there. |
3. Rom. Antiq. A small image.
| 1738 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Sigillaria, Some derive the origin of sigils and figures, in this solemnity, from the argei [etc.]. |