verb transitive

ob-signo

2nd PP ob-signāre · 3rd PP ob-signāvi · 4th PP ob-signātum · conj. 1st

to seal, seal up

v. a., to seal, seal up a will, a letter, etc. (class.).

to sign and seal; to deal with one with sealed writings; in the strictest form ••

In gen.: cedo tu ceram ac linum actutum: age obliga, obsigna cito, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 96: cellas, id. Cas. 2, 1, 1: lagenas, Q. Cic. Fam. 16, 26: epistulam, Cic. Att. 8, 6, 1; id. Pis. 28, 71.—Esp.: tabulas, testamenta, to sign and seal, as a witness: istam ipsam quaestionem, dicite, quis obsignavit? Cic. Clu. 66, 185: tabellas ejus rei condicionisque, id. Quint. 21, 67: testamentum signis adulterinis, id. Clu. 14, 41: obsignavit anulo, Vulg. Dan. 6, 17.—Prov.: agere cum aliquo tabellis obsignatis, to deal with one with sealed writings, i. e. in the strictest form, Cic. Tusc. 5, 11, 33 (cf.: tamquam ex syngraphā agere cum populo, id. Mur. 17, 35): tabulas obsignare velle, would seal up the documents, i. e. would have no discussion, id. Pis. 28, 69.—

in particular

To seal up the papers and effects of an accused person

To seal up the papers and effects of an accused person, Cic. Verr. 1, 19, 50.—Hence,

To seal an accusation

To seal an accusation against one: qui contra Scaurum patrem suum obsignaverat, Cic. Scaur. Fragm. ap. Ascon.—

To pledge; mortgage under one's hand and seal •

To pledge or mortgage under one's hand and seal: tria agri jugera ad aerarium obsignaverat, Val. Max. 4, 4, 7.—

To close under seal, make fast •

To close under seal, make fast: inane obsignari nihil solere, Cic. Div. 2, 70, 145; cf. the context.—

to stamp, impress figuratively •

Trop., to stamp, impress: formam verbi, Lucr. 4, 567: aliquid obsignatum habere, to impress on the mind, id. 2, 581.

Perseus ID: n31869 Key: obsigno