I. In gen., sign-bearing, imagebearing, i.e. bearing signs, figures, or images (poet.): puppis, i.e. adorned or painted with images, Luc. 3, 558; so, “crater,” Val. Fl. 1, 337: “manus,” giving signals, Amm. 27, 9, 7.—
II. In partic. (class.).
A. Bearing the heavenly signs or constellations, starry: “aether,” Lucr. 6, 481: “caelum,” Luc. 7, 363; 8, 172: orbis, qui Graece ζωδιακὸς dicitur, the zodiac, Cic. Div. 2, 42, 89; so, “orbis,” Lucr. 5, 691; Sen. Q. N. 7, 11, 8; “for which also, polus,” Luc. 3, 254; Amm. 26, 1, 1; and subst. signifer, the sky, the heavens, etc., Sen. Q. N. 7, 24, 1; 7, 12, 8; Vitr. 6, 1; Plin. 2, 10, 7, § 48; Claud. in Rufin. 1, 365 al.—
B. In milit. lang., subst.: signĭfer , fĕri, m.
1. Lit., a standard-bearer, ensign: “signifero interfecto, signo amisso, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 2, 25; id. B. C. 3, 74; Cic. Div. 1, 35, 77; Liv. 6, 8; 22, 3; Ov. Am. 2, 12, 14.—
2. Transf., leader, head, chief, etc.: “nostrae causae duces et quasi signiferi,” Cic. Planc. 30, 74: “signifer juventutis,” id. Sull. 12, 34; id. Mur. 25, 50; id. Att. 2, 1, 7; Suet. Ner. 26; id. Vit. Luc.
