A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane knowledge. Knowing was guessing and interpreting, not observing or demonstrating.
Consider Las Fallas of Valencia, Spain, arguably the most signature of signature ephemera.
Wikipedia foundation.
signature — [ siɲatyr ] n. f. • 1430; lat. médiév. signatura, du lat. class. signator « signataire » 1 ♦ Inscription qu une personne fait de son nom (sous une forme particulière et constante) pour affirmer l exactitude, la sincérité d un écrit ou en assumer… … Encyclopédie Universelle
signature — sig‧na‧ture [ˈsɪgnətʆə ǁ ər] noun 1. [countable] BANKING your name written in the way you usually write it, for example at the end of a letter or on a cheque. It is often used to give official or legal permission for something: • I couldn t read… … Financial and business terms
signature — sig·na·ture n 1 a: the act of signing one s name or of making a mark in lieu thereof b: the name of a person written with his or her own hand to signify that the writing which precedes accords with his or her wishes or intentions c: any mark (as… … Law dictionary
signature — Signature. s. f. Le sein de quelqu un apposé à une lettre, à un contract. Je connois sa signature. il y a vingt signatures à ce contract. c est un habile faussaire, il contrefait toutes les signatures. cette signature est fausse. mettre un arrest … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
signature — [sig′nə chər] n. [LL signatura < L signare: see SIGNATORY] 1. a person s name written by that person; also, a representation of this in a mark, stamp, deputy s handwriting, etc. 2. the act of signing one s name 3. an identifying characteristic … English World dictionary
Signature — Sig na*ture, n. [F. (cf. It. signatura, segnatura, Sp. & LL. signatura), from L. signare, signatum. See {Sign}, v. t.] 1. A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal. [1913 Webster] The brain, being well furnished with various traces,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
signature — ► NOUN 1) a person s name written in a distinctive way as a form of identification or authorization. 2) the action of signing something. 3) a distinctive product or characteristic by which someone or something can be identified. 4) Music a key… … English terms dictionary
Signature — Sig na*ture, v. t. To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
signature — 1530s, a kind of document in Scottish law, from M.Fr. signature (16c.), from M.L. signatura sign, in classical L. the matrix of a seal, from signatus, pp. of signare to mark, sign (see SIGN (Cf. sign)). Meaning one s own name written in one s own … Etymology dictionary
Signature — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Signature (homonymie). La signature de John Hancock est l une des plus remarquables de la Déclaration d indépendance des États Unis d Amérique … Wikipédia en Français
Signature — A signature (from Latin signare , sign ) is a handwritten (and sometimes stylized) depiction of someone s name, nickname or even a simple X that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a signature is a… … Wikipedia
