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.
Note: 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).