Seal

Seal, sēl, n. an engraved stamp for impressing the wax which closes a letter, &c.: the wax or other substance so impressed: that which makes fast or secure: that which authenticates or ratifies: assurance: the water left standing in the trap of a drain or sewer, preventing the upward flow of gas: the sigil or signature of a plant, &c., in medieval medicine: the sign of the cross, baptism, confirmation, the ineffaceable character supposed to be left on the soul by some sacraments.—v.t. to fasten with a seal: to set a seal to: to mark with a stamp: to make fast: to confirm: to keep secure: to close the chinks of: to secure against an escape of air or gas by means of a dip-pipe: to accept: to sign with the cross, to baptise or confirm.—adj. Sealed, certified by a seal: inaccessible.—ns. Seal′-engrav′ing, the art of engraving seals; Seal′er, one who seals: an inspector of stamps; Seal′ing, confirmation by a seal; Seal′ing-day (Shak.), a day for sealing anything; Seal′ing-wax, wax for sealing letters, &c.—also Seal′-wax; Seal′-pipe, a dip-pipe; Seal′-press, a stamp bearing dies for embossing any device upon paper or lead; Seal′-ring (Shak.), a signet-ring; Seal′-wort, Solomon's seal.—Seal of the fisherman, the papal privy seal impressed on wax, representing St Peter fishing.—Great seal, the state seal of the United Kingdom; Leaden seal, a disc of lead pierced with two holes through which are passed the ends of a twisted wire; Privy Seal, the seal appended to grants, and in Scotland authenticating royal grants of personal rights; Set one's seal to, to give one's authority or assent to; Under seal, authenticated. [O. Fr. seel—L. sigillum, dim. of signum, a mark.]