signation

signation — noun

1. the gesture of tracing a cross shape over one's own body, performed as a Christi

1.名詞C2
釋義

the gesture of tracing a cross shape over one's own body, performed as a Christian act of prayer, blessing, or reverence

例句

Sister Agnes made a slow signation before stepping into the darkened chapel.

make + signation (standard verb collocation)

The old woman's signation was the first thing the young priest noticed during Mass.

同義詞
  • sign of the cross

    the everyday equivalent; neutral and widely understood across Christian traditions

  • crossing oneself

    more colloquial; suggests a quicker or more habitual gesture

  • blessing

    a much broader term — can be a gesture, spoken words, or a state of divine favour, not limited to the cross shape

用法筆記

A rare, formal term confined to Christian contexts — especially Catholic, Orthodox, and high Anglican traditions. It names the physical gesture only, not the spoken prayer that may accompany it. In everyday speech, people say 'the sign of the cross' or 'crossing oneself.'

常見錯誤

❌He put his signation on the contract.
✅He made the sign of the cross before entering the cathedral.
💡Sense 1 of 'signation' refers exclusively to the Christian religious gesture; for signing a document, use 'signature.'

2. a mark, symbol, or seal stamped or carved onto an object to show who made it, wh

2.名詞C2
釋義

a mark, symbol, or seal stamped or carved onto an object to show who made it, who owns it, or where it came from

例句

The medieval manuscript bore the abbot's signation on its final page.

bear + signation (formal collocation, historical register)

Each barrel of wine carried the vintner's signation pressed into the wood.

同義詞
  • seal

    broader and more common; can be an embossed stamp, a wax seal, or a sticker

  • hallmark

    specifically an official mark stamped on precious metals to certify purity

  • emblem

    more decorative in connotation; often a design rather than a mark of ownership

用法筆記

This sense is archaic and almost never used in modern English. It survives mainly in historical scholarship, heraldry, and descriptions of pre-industrial crafts. In contemporary usage, 'mark,' 'seal,' 'stamp,' or 'hallmark' are the natural replacements.

常見錯誤

❌Please write your signation at the bottom of the form.
✅Please write your signature at the bottom of the form.
💡In modern English, 'signature' is the word for a person's handwritten name on a document; 'signation' in this archaic sense refers to an identifying mark or seal on an object.