Lewis & Short

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signĭfĭcātĭo, ōnis, f. [significo].

  1. I. A pointing out, indicating, denoting, signifying; an expression, indication, mark, sign, token, = indicium, signum, ἐπισημασία, etc. (freq. and class.).
          1. (α) Absol.: gestus sententiam non demonstratione sed significatione declarans, Cic. de Or. 3, 59, 220: aliquem nutu significationeque appellare, id. Fam. 1, 9, 20: ignibus significatione factā. Caes. B. G. 2, 33: significatione per castella fumo factā, id. B. C. 3, 65; id. B. G. 7, 81.
            With subj. gen.: ex significatione Gallorum, Caes. B. G. 7, 12 fin.: litterarum, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 3, 7.
          2. (β) With obj. gen. (so most freq.): voluntatis, Cic. Clu. 11, 31: victoriae, Caes. B. G. 5, 53: adventus, id. ib. 6, 29 fin.: virtutis, Cic. Lael. 14, 48; cf. id. Off. 1, 15, 46: significatio calamitatum, id. Div. 2, 25, 54: artificii, id. de Or. 2, 30, 153: probitatis, id. Lael. 9, 32; id. Fam. 5, 7, 2 et saep.
            Plur.: valetudinis significationes, Cic. Div. 2, 69, 142: rerum futurarum, id. N. D. 2, 66, 166.
          3. (γ) With object-clause (very rare): ex quibus magna significatio fit, non adesse constantiam, Cic. Off. 1, 36, 131.
            Plur.: multas nec dubias significationes saepe jecit: ne reliquis quidem se parsurum senatoribus, Suet. Ner. 37.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. Pregn., like the Gr. ἐπισημασία, a sign or token of assent, an expression of approbation, applause: populi judiciis atque omni significatione florere, Cic. Sest. 49, 105; cf. id. ib. 57, 122; 59, 127: ut ex ipsā significatione potuit cognosci, Caes. B. C. 1, 86.
      Plur., Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 14, § 42: significationibus acclamationibus multitudinis, Liv. 31, 15, 2 (corresp. to assentatio).
    2. B. Also, like ἐπισημασία, a sign, token, foretoken, prognostic of the weather (Plinian): est et aquarum significatio, etc. … caeli quidem murmur non dubiam habet significationem. Praesagiunt et animalia, Plin. 18, 35, 85, § 359 sq.
    3. C. In rhet. lang., significance, emphasis: significatio est, quae plus in suspicione relinquit, quam positum est in oratione, Auct. Her. 4, 53, 67; Cic. de Or. 3, 53, 203; id. Or. 40, 139; Quint. 9, 2, 3 (as a transl. of the Gr. ἔμφασις).
    4. D. In gram., meaning, sense, import, signification of a word or phrase: verbi, Varr. L. L. 9, § 40 Müll.: scripti, Cic. Part. Or. 31, 108; cf. id. ib. 38, 132: est igitur tropus sermo a naturali et principali significatione translatus ad aliam, Quint. 9, 1, 4: ejusdem verbi contraria significatio, id. 9, 3, 68: voces eaedem diversā in significatione ponuntur, id. 9, 3, 69: verborum, id. 10, 1, 10: latens, id. 10, 1, 90: propriae, Gell. 12, 13, 2.
      So the titles of the lexical works of Aelius Gallus, Verrius Flaccus, Festus, etc.: De verborum Significatione or Significationibus.
    5. E. Meaning, intent: duas significationes habet propositio vestra, includes two assertions, Sen. Ep. 87, 28.