I.dep. collat. form signĭfĭcor , acc. to Gell. 18, 12, 10, without an example), v. a. signum-facio.
I. In gen., to show by signs; to show, point out, express, publish, make known, indicate; to intimate, notify, signify, etc. (freq. and class.; syn.: monstro, declaro, indico).
(α).
With acc.: “aliquid alicui,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 1, 5: “hoc mihi significasse et annuisse visus est,” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 91, § 213: “quae significari ac declarari volemus,” id. de Or. 3, 13, 49: “gratulationem,” id. Att. 4, 1, 5: “stultitiam,” id. Agr. 2, 12, 30: “deditionem,” Caes. B. G. 7, 40: “timorem fremitu et concursu,” id. ib. 4, 14: “vir, quem ne inimicus quidem satis in appellando significare poterat,” Cic. Font. 17, 39 (13, 29): “aliquid per gestum,” Ov. Tr. 5, 10, 36 et saep.— With two acc. (rare): “ut eorum ornatus in his regem neminem significaret,” Nep. Ages. 8, 2; id. Them. 2, 7.—
(β).
With object clause: hoc tibi non significandum solum, sed etiam declarandum arbitror, nihil mihi esse potuisse tuis litteris gratius, Cic. Fam. 5, 13, 2; cf. id. Mil. 2, 4: “provocationem a regibus fuisse significant nostri augurales,” id. Rep. 2, 31, 54: “se esse admodum delectatos,” id. ib. 3, 30, 42: “omnes voce significare coeperunt, sese, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 2, 13; 4, 3; cf.: “hoc significant, sese ad statuas tuas pecuniam contulisse,” Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 60, § 148.—
(γ).
With rel. or interrog.-clause: “neque unde, nec quo die datae essent (litterae), aut quo tempore te exspectarem, significabant,” Cic. Fam. 2, 19, 1: “nutu significat, quid velit,” Ov. M. 3, 643: “(anseres et canes) aluntur in Capitolio, ut significent, si fures venerint, etc.,” Cic. Rosc. Am. 20, 56: “significare coeperunt, ut dimitterentur,” Caes. B. C. 1, 86.—
(δ).
With de: “significare de fugā Romanis coeperunt,” Caes. B. G. 7, 26: “est aliquid de virtute significatum tuā,” Cic. Planc. 21, 52.—（ε) Absol.: “diversae state ... Neve inter vos significetis,” Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 14: “significare inter sese coeperunt,” Cic. de Or. 1, 26, 122: “ut quam maxime significem,” id. Tusc. 2, 20, 46: “ut fumo atque ignibus significabatur,” Caes. B. G. 2, 7 fin.: “ubi major atque illustrior incidit res, clamore per agros regionesque significant,” id. ib. 7, 3.—
II. In partic.
A. To betoken, prognosticate, foreshow, portend, mean (syn. praedico): “futura posse a quibusdam significari,” Cic. Div. 1, 1, 2: “quid haec tanta celeritas festinatioque significat?” id. Rosc. Am. 34, 97: “quid sibi significent, trepidantia consulit exta,” Ov. M. 15, 576; cf.: “quid mihi significant ergo mea visa?” id. ib. 9, 495: “significet placidos nuntia fibra deos,” Tib. 2, 1, 25: “quae fato manent, quamvis significata, non vitantur,” Tac. H. 1, 18.—
2. To betoken a change of weather (post-Aug.): “ventus Africus tempestatem significat, etc.,” Col. 11, 2, 4 sq.: “serenos dies (luna),” Plin. 18, 35, 79, § 348: “imbrem (occasus Librae),” id. ib. 26, 66, § 246.—Absol.: “terreni ignes proxime significant,” Plin. 18, 35, 84, § 357.—
C. To mean, import, signify; of words: “carere hoc significat, egere eo, quod habere velis, etc.,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 36, 88: “multa verba aliud nunc ostendunt, aliud ante significabant, ut hostis,” Varr. L. L. 5, § 3 Müll.; “9, § 85 ib.: videtis hoc uno verbo unde significare res duas, et ex quo et a quo loco,” Cic. Caecin. 30, 88.—Of a fable: “haec significat fabula dominum videre plurimum,” Phaedr. 2, 8, 27; 4, 10, 16.— Hence, signĭfĭcans , antis, P. a., in rhet. lang., of speech, full of meaning, expressive, significant; graphic, distinct, clear: “locorum dilucida et significans descriptio,” Quint. 9, 2, 44: “verba,” id. 11, 1, 2; cf. id. 4, 2, 36; 4, 2, 8, prooem. § 31:“ demonstratio,” Plin. 8, 40, 61, § 147.—Transf., of orators: “Atticos esse lucidos et significantes,” Quint. 12, 10, 21.—Comp.: “quo nihil inveniri possit significantius,” Quint. 8, 2, 9; 8, 6, 6.— Sup.: “significantissimum vocabulum,” Gell. 1, 15, 17.—Adv.: signĭfĭcanter , clearly, distinctly, expressly, significantly, graphically: “breviter ac significanter ordinem rei protulisse,” Quint. 11, 1, 53: “rem indicare (with proprie),” id. 12, 10, 52: “dicere (with ornate),” id. 1, 7, 32.—Comp.: “apertius, significantius dignitatem alicujus defendere,” Cic. Fam. 3, 12, 3: “narrare,” Quint. 10, 1, 49: “disponere,” id. 3, 6, 65: “appellare aliquid (with consignatius),” Gell. 1, 25, 8: “dicere (with probabilius),” id. 17, 2, 11.— Sup., Pseudo Quint. Decl. 247.
