| 释义 |
▪ I. signal, n.|ˈsɪgnəl|
[a. F. signal (OF. also seignal, seignau, etc.), = Pg. sinal, Sp. señal, It. segnale, med.L. signāl(e, a Romanic formation on L. signum sign: see -al1 4. Used by Chaucer and Gower, but otherwise evidenced only from the end of the 16th century.]
†1.
a. A visible sign; a badge or symbol. Obs.
c1384Chaucer H. Fame i. 459 Tho saugh I.. alle the mervelouse signals Of the goddys celestials. 1390Gower Conf. III. 57 In his hond He bar the signal of his lond With fisshes thre. 1601Sir W. Cornwallis Disc. Seneca (1631) 7 His other signals of authority, the deckings of a corrupt minde.
b. A mark of distinction or honour. Obs.
1655M. Carter Honor Rediv. (1660) 3 Vertue being still admired, and honored, and some signall put upon it. 1685Bunyan Seventh-day Sabbath v, Now what another signal was here [i.e. at the day of Pentecost] put upon the first day of the week.
2. A sign, token, or indication (of something).
In later use not clearly separable from sense 4.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. iv. 121 In signall of my loue to thee. 1594― Rich. III, v. iii. 21 (Qtos.), The wearie sonne..Giues signall of a goodlie day to-morrow. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. iv, The bread and wine which were but the signalls or visible signes..were made the things signified. 1715De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. i. (1841) I. 12 'Tis a signal that he has no thought of mercy in store for them. 1725― Voy. round World (1840) 320 All this while we saw no people, nor any signals of any. 1782V. Knox Ess. xcv. (1819) II. 190 To whom we wish to display some signal of our love. 1820Shelley Ode to Naples 113 The signal and the seal..Art thou of all these hopes. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xviii, The arrival of the piano, which, as she conjectured, must have come from George, and was a signal of amity on his part.
3. A sign agreed upon or understood as the occasion of concerted action, esp. one ordering the movement of troops or ships; also fig., an exciting cause.
1593Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 116 Attending but the signall to begin. 1611Coryat Crudities 16 Presently they gaue the Signall to Hernand Teillo, that lay vnder the towne with his ambuscado. 1667Milton P.L. v. 702 All obey'd The wonted signal. 1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 176 The signal of battle being given with two cannon shot we marched in order of battalia. 1770Langhorne Plutarch (1851) I. 60/2 The pæan..was the signal to advance. 1816J. Wilson City of Plague iii. iii, Go on deck, and tell me if thou seest The signal flying for close line of battle. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xix. 134 This was the signal for a grasp all round. 1874Green Short Hist. vi. §5. 318 The meeting of the Emperor [Charles] with Henry at Southampton gave the signal for a renewal of the war.
4. a. A sign or notice, perceptible by sight or hearing, given especially for the purpose of conveying warning, direction, or information.
1598Drayton Heroical Ep. Poems (1619) 212, I..being ship'd, gave signall with my Hand Vp to the Cliffe where I did see thee stand. 1667Milton P.L. xi. 72 The Son gave signal high To the bright Minister that watch'd, hee blew His Trumpet. 1698Froger Voy. 8 We likewise made signals to the other ships. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. 12 The Master..order'd to fire a Gun as a Signal of Distress. 1732T. Lediard Sethos II. ix. 281 The garrison beat..a signal of surrender. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xii, And, as she drew nearer to Olivia, gave a signal and passed on to her cell. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles iii. xxiii, It was a keen and warning look, And well the Chief the signal took. 1896Law Times Rep. LXXIII. 615/1 A bell rang which was a signal..that a train was coming.
b. An object serving to convey an intimation.
1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 94 There is a small Church in the Sea,..which serves for a Light-house and Signal. 1774Mackenzie Mar. Surv. ii. 84 When the Surveyor is at a proper Station, the Assistant must set up the black Signal. 1838Railway signal [see railway 3]. 1859Geo. Eliot A. Bede xlvii, He has something in his hand—he is holding it up as if it were a signal. 1878Gurney Crystallogr. 105 Let these signals..be so placed that the same horizontal plane will pass through each of them.
c. A modulation of an electric current, electromagnetic wave, or the like by means of which information is conveyed from one place to another; the current or wave itself; also, a current or wave whose presence is regarded as conveying information about the source from which it comes. Also = signal strength, sense 5 e below.
1855D. Lardner Electric Telegraph v. §121 The signals transmitted appear upon the telegraphic instrument informing the agent whence the dispatch will come. 1873Trans. Inst. Engineers & Shipbuilders in Scotland XVI. 119 If several thousand Leyden Jars were distributed along an aerial line of telegraph..the signals through the line would exhibit exactly the same inductive retardation as those sent through the actual submarine line. 1902Proc. R. Soc. LXX. 256 For transmitting signals, an aerial wire or wires were attached to one of two spark balls fitted to an induction coil, the other ball being earthed. 1923Radio Times 28 Sept. 2/2 After sunset signals may increase very considerably. 1958Times 18 Jan. 7/3 The problem of how to reach Iraq and the Persian Gulf area with an adequate signal has yet to be solved. 1961New Scientist 26 Jan. 199/3 The picture signal which indicates by amplitude modulation of a carrier wave how bright each point on a line should be, is interrupted at the ends of each line by synchronizing pulses. 1961G. Millerson Technique Telev. Production ii. 19 The current, known as the video or picture signal, is subsequently amplified and passed to the video switching console. 1965New Statesman 30 Apr. 674/2 The signals received from it [sc. Early Bird satellite] on the ground are extremely weak—about one-millionth of a normal TV signal in a fringe area. 1970J. Earl Tuners & Amplifiers iv. 78 Signal delivered by the control section..is just right for feeding into the power amplifier section. 1978Pasachoff & Kutner University Astron. xi. 302 Various objects in space emit electromagnetic signals in the radio part of the spectrum.
5. attrib. and Comb.
a. Attrib. with ns. denoting something employed as, or used in giving, a signal or signals, as signal apparatus, signal arm (arm n.1 6 c), signal beacon, signal bell, signal code, signal fire, signal flag, signal strip, etc.; also, denoting something used in receiving a signal or signals, as signal pad (pad n.3 4). Also objective, as signal-processing.
1841Penny Cycl. XIX. 258/1 It is usual to affix a *signal apparatus to them.
1901Railway Mag. May 463/2 A neighbouring *signal-arm falls. 1949M. Taylor Railway Signalling i. 6 Near the top of the post is the signal arm which is always on the left of the post when the viewer is facing the signal. 1962A. Lurie Love & Friendship xv. 293 Coarse grass grew along the track, and the signal arm was rusted at all clear.
1856Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxvi. 345 A large *signal-beacon or cairn.
1897D. Butler Ch. & Par. Abernethy 180 The mere use of the *signal-bell of the hand⁓bell-ringer.
1832Marryat N. Forster xli, Captain Drawlock..had the *signal-book in his hand. 1865Alex. Smith Summer in Skye I. 266 The sailor in possession of the signal-book reads the signal.
1877J. Habberton Jericho Road 94 Between the societies of neighboring counties there often existed *signal-codes, and unwritten extradition and reciprocity treaties. 1952M. K. Wilson tr. Lorenz's King Solomon's Ring viii. 82 The whole complicated ‘signal code’ of the jackdaw.
1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 290 The *signal fires were blazing fifty miles off.
1802James Milit. Dict. s.v., Although *signal flags, in modern engagements, have been generally laid aside [etc.].
1814Scott Ld. of Isles iv. xxx, Might not my father's beadsman hoar..Kindle a *signal-flame?
1758in J. S. McLennan Louisbourg (1918) 414 Light gales and fair weather, later thick fog. Fired *signal gun. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVIII. 336/2 A signal-gun to be fired. 1842Lever J. Hinton vi, When the signal-gun announced the commencement of the action. 1930R. Campbell Adamastor 74 The rocks, spray-clouded, are your signal guns.
1837Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. I. 13/2 The..height of the lower or *signal lamp. 1902Chambers's Jrnl. July 479/2 The apparatus is simply a new glass for the signal-lamp, facing along the same way and throwing a powerful beam of light over the whole length of the arm. 1932G. Greene Stamboul Train i. i. 5 A signal lamp turned from red to green.
1804Nelson 23 Feb. in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. p. ccxix, It is recommended..to be careful that the *Signal-lights for knowing each other are clear. 1844Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. VII. 237 Igniting the composition forming the signal light. 1881*Signal-light [see running light s.v. running vbl. n. 17 a]. 1936Discovery Sept. 289/2 Motor-car headlights, signal lights and searchlights. 1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 5 July 8-a/6 The Utah Highway Patrol requested drivers to stay off the roads as signal lights were off through much of the state.
1873M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma (1876) 270 These three texts..may well stand as the great *signal-marks pointing to it.
a1873Lytton Pausanias 36 From several of the vessels the trumpets woke a sonorous *signal-note.
1958P. Kemp No Colours or Crest iv. 54 By the operator's stool..were some *signal pads. 1975T. Allbeury Palomino Blonde x. 63 The Morse came and he was getting it down on his signal pad.
1964R. F. Ficchi Electr. Interference vi. 99 Another way to reduce susceptibility to unwanted signals in cables is to use various *signal-processing methods to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
1766R. Jones Fireworks iv. 135 *Signal-rockets..are headed with stars, serpents, &c. 1887Spectator 30 July 1019/2 A signal-rocket sent up from the flag-ship.
1802James Milit. Dict. s.v., A continual discharge of these *signal shells.
1812S. Rogers Columbus Poems (1839) 43 When hark, a *signal shot! 1850R. G. Cumming Hunter's Life S. Africa (1902) 101/1 Their comrades..requested me to fire signal-shots at intervals.
1917‘Contact’ Airman's Outings 261 The whole party circles round the aerodrome until the *signal strips for ‘Carry on’ are laid out on the ground. 1954W. Faulkner Fable 87 He reached the aerodrome and saw the ground signal-strip laid out on it;..not until he saw the other aeroplanes on the ground or landing or coming into land did he recognise it to be the peremptory emergency signal to all aircraft to come down.
1828Lights & Shades II. 259 The distant *signal-whistle of a gang of robbers. 1895Mod. Steam Engine 51 The signal whistle is shown at g.
1814Scott Ld. of Isles vi. xxx, When mute Amadine they heard Give to their zeal his *signal-word. 1831― Ct. Rob. xxii, Thou wilt not forget that the signal word of the insurrection is Ursel.
b. With ns. denoting a place or thing from which signals are given or worked, as signal box, signal bridge, signal cabin, signal gantry, signal house, etc.
1829Marryat F. Mildmay vi, I was..intent on looking for the telegraphic *signal-box. 1884Encycl. Brit. XX. 238/2 Distant signals..worked by wire communication from the signal box, were, it is believed, first introduced..in 1846.
1899F. T. Bullen Way Navy 75 As I write comes a messenger from the *signal-bridge..with a copy of signal just made from the flagship.
1889Findlay Eng. Railway 69 The *signal cabin contains a most complicated piece of mechanism, called the ‘locking frame’.
1927A. Mee Children's Treasure House III. 1819/1 A *signal gantry (one of those large bridges covered with signals which stand near important junctions or great termini). 1939[see gantry 2 b]. 1976Physics Bull. Dec. 556/1 A total of 15 signal gantries span the roadway for a distance of about 8 km.
1796Gentl. Mag. LXVI. i. 369 In the first distance is seen the *signal-house, with Bogner..beyond. 1892E. Reeves Homewd. Bound. 160 Most of the signal-house keepers and dredge men along the canal seem French.
1811Sir W. Scott Dodson's Rep. I. 19 Notice was given from the Spanish *signal-post that an enemy was hovering on the coast. 1848K. H. Digby Compitum I. 15 The notices, the signal-posts as it were, in life's forest.
1802James Milit. Dict. s.v., It is usual to fix a red flag..to point out the spot where the general or officer commanding takes his station in front of a line. This is called the *signal staff. 1898Sir G. Parker Battle of Strong xxxv, Not far from her was the signal-staff which telegraphed to another signal-staff inland. Upon the staff now was hoisted a red flag.
1816Kirby & Sp. Entomol. xvii. (1818) II. 43 The soldiers at these *signal-stations sat quite still during the intervals of silence. 1867A. J. Wilson Vashti xxv, Under his steady gaze the blood rose slowly to its old signal-station on her cheeks.
1766Smollett Trav. I. x. 159 It seems to have been intended, at first, as a watch, or *signal-tower.
c. With ns. denoting persons connected with signalling, as signal boy, signal corps, signal lieutenant, etc. Also objective, as signal fitter.
1888Daily News 18 Dec. 6/4 The dead body of..the *signal boy at Spa-road Station..was found..on the line.
a1885G. B. McClellan Own Story (1887) 135 The weak point in the *signal corps..was that its officers were not trained soldiers. 1895Outing XXVI. 396/1 The Signal Corps is a body of highly trained soldiers whose duty it is to provide the methods of communication between the different forces of an army.
1898Westm. Gaz. 15 July 5/3 Two *signal fitters were standing in the four-foot way.
1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, *Signal lieutenant, an officer in the Royal Navy having the charge of signals on board a flag-ship.
1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 626 Signal-officer, in a repeating frigate, a *signal-midshipman; in a flag-ship, a flag-lieutenant.
1829Marryat F. Mildmay iii, The *signal officers..had to make out the number of the flag. 1898Westm. Gaz. 23 Apr. 8/2 Accompanied by a signal officer and a small prize crew.
1895Outing XXVI. 399 A new equipment for the *Signal Service, the captive balloon.
1871Fair France ii. 66 Female officials, down to *signalwomen and pointswomen, who at country stations stood, flag in hand, solemnly attentive to duty.
d. With other parts of speech, as signal-like adj.
1935Amer. Speech X. 250/1 The result obtained..are functionally independent groups of sounds, each of the groups reflecting one of the basic, signal-like values in the given language. 1961Brno Studies in English III. 51 Its survival may be satisfactorily explained by the signal-like character of ǫi in foreign and emotionally coloured words.
e. Special combs., as signal anxiety Psychol., anxiety which, according to the theory put forward by Freud in 1926, acts as a signal of danger to the ego; signal-caller N. Amer. Football, a player who signals to other members of his team what the next move and formation should be; signal detection Psychol., the detection of signals, esp. with regard to the observer's vigilance and sensitivity; also attrib.; signal generator Electronics, an instrument that can generate modulated or unmodulated electrical waveforms of known amplitude and frequency, used in adjusting and testing electronic apparatus; signal intelligence: see signals intelligence below; signal-noise ratio = signal-to-noise ratio below; signal plate Television, in some types of camera tube, a plate electrode whose capacitance relative to the adjacent photo-electric surface is used to provide the picture signal; signal reaction (see quot. 1976); signal red, a vermilion colour; signal(s) intelligence, intelligence derived from the monitoring, interception, and interpretation of radio signals and similar transmissions (cf. SIGINT, Sigint); signal strength, the amplitude or power of a signal, esp. of a broadcast signal as it reaches a given location or is received by a given aerial; signal-to-noise ratio Radio and Electronics, the ratio of the strength of a desired signal to that of unwanted noise interference, usu. expressed in decibels; also transf. to non-electrical systems.
[1928J. Rickman in Internat. Jrnl. Psychoanal. (Suppl. 2) 63 The situation which conditions the anticipation is the danger situation which gives, so to speak, the ‘Anxiety Signal’ of impending helplessness.] 1948E. Jones Papers on Psycho-Anal. (ed. 5) xiv. 315 Primary anxiety, no less than the later ‘signal’ anxiety, belongs essentially to these defensive measures. 1968C. Rycroft Crit. Dict. Psychoanal. 154 Signal anxiety..in Freud's formulation is the response of the ego to internal danger and the stimulus to the formation and use of defence-mechanisms. 1975in S. Arieti Amer. Handbk. Psychiatry (ed. 2) IV. xxi. 485/1 The finely modulated, discrete and homeostatically balanced responses of the adult, such as ‘signal anxiety’.
1971L. Koppett Guide to Spectator Sports ii. 48 The quarterback now handles the ball on every play... He must be the signal-caller, too, because the attack is now concentrated in his hands. 1979Arizona Daily Star 5 Aug. c 9/1 John Banaszak jarred the ball loose from Bills signal caller David Mays.
1954Tanner & Swets in Psychol. Rev. LXI. 409/2 The mathematical model of signal detection is applicable to problems of visual detection. 1971D. E. Broadbent Decision & Stress iii. 75 We cannot..take the success of signal detection theory in psychophysics as if it guaranteed its adequacy in the case of vigilance. 1979in Hamilton & Warburton Hum. Stress & Cognition v. 148 Signal detection methodology is now the more widely used approach in the study of vigilance.
1929K. Henney Princ. Radio xv. 376 The circuit diagram is that of the General Radio Signal Generator, a device which consists of a radio-frequency oscillator, a means of measuring and controlling its output, and a means of using any desired part of this output for purposes of measuring receivers. 1950J. H. Reyner Encycl. Radio & Television 564/1 For the testing and alignment of receivers, signal generators giving modulated waves are available. 1972Jrnl. Social Psychol. LXXXVII. 119 These tapes were made by recording square wave pulses produced by a Hewlet-Packard low-frequency signal generator.
1958Guardian 22 May 3/1 Thompson and Miller trained for ‘a specialised and secret duty in Signal Intelligence’, Mr Jones continued. 1969Signal intelligence [see SIGINT, sigint]. 1972New Scientist 2 Mar. 466/1 The generic term for the business today is Signal Intelligence (Sigint).
1934A. L. Albert Electr. Communication xv. 412 Just as in transmission over wires, it is necessary that the signal-noise ratio is high, and that fading is not excessive. 1962Daily Tel. 6 July 21/7 However efficient the detectors and however good the signal-noise ratio, there will always be the possibility of doubt.
1934V. K. Zworykin in Jrnl. Franklin Inst. CCXVII. 10 Consider the circuit of a single photo⁓electric element in the mosaic... Here P represents such an element, and C its capacity to a plate common to all the elements, which hereafter will be called the ‘signal plate’. 1975K. Wicks Television 19 After striking the signal plate, the electron beam returns along the tube, attracted by the positive charge on a series of five electrodes called dynodes.
1946F. P. Chisholm in W. S. Knickerbocker Twentieth Century English 183 Signal-reactions..and other neuro-semantic disorders are often combined with brilliant verbal facility. 1976N. Postman Crazy Talk 195 A signal reaction is what happens when words have lost their referential or symbolic aspect and instead assume the character of religious icons.
1936Times Educ. Suppl. 21 Nov. p. iv/1 Gules..is not included in the range, but signal-red, similar but not quite so yellow, takes its place. 1977Western Morning News 30 Aug. 2/7 Jaguar XJS; brand new;..signal red; beige trim.
1976, etc. Signals intelligence [see SIGINT, sigint].
1912Marconigraph II. 269/2 Observations..showed that during totality the signal strength was increased. 1935Discovery Sept. 278/1 The successive signal strengths are proportioned to the corresponding light and shade areas of the image focused by the lens upon the mosaic. 1968M. Woodhouse Rock Baby xiii. 130 He..showed me..the tiny signal-strength meter on the side. 1978Broadcast 20 Nov. 16/1 The report of the meeting..referred only to discussion of [Radio] Hallam's signal strength.
1935Proc. IRE XXIII. 713 A single tone was used to modulate the transmitter when measuring signal-to-noise ratios. 1966D. G. Brandon Mod. Techniques Metallogr. 239 The overall quantum efficiency for high-energy electrons can be of the order of 0·2 and is only limited by the necessity to achieve a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio in the emulsion. 1974Harvey & Bohlman Stereo F.M. Radio Handbk. ii. 32 A reduction in carrier deviation means that a smaller signal is available at the output of the receiver demodulator and consequently the signal-to-noise ratio is lowered.
▸ signal peptide n. Molecular Biol. a short discrete amino acid sequence occurring (usually at the amino terminus) in many newly synthesized proteins that acts to direct their movement to specific locations within the cell and which is usually cleaved from the mature protein.
1975Jrnl. Cell Biol. 67 848 (caption) Endoproteolytic removal of the signal sequence before chain completion is indicated by the presence of *signal peptides..within the intracisternal space. 1986Cell 44 177/1 For most secreted and transmembrane proteins studied, insertion into or across the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane is initiated by an amino-terminal signal peptide (or leader peptide) of 16-26 residues with a polar, basic amino terminus and a central, hydrophobic domain. 2004Protein Sci. 13 2819 A number of computational tools are available for detecting signal peptides, but their abilities to locate the signal peptide cleavage sites vary significantly.
▸ signal sequence n. Molecular Biol. = signal peptide n. at Additions.
1975Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A 72 5016/1 In the recently formulated signal hypothesis..it was proposed that segregation of specific proteins, (e.g., secretory, lysosomal, and peroxisomal proteins) in intracellular membrane-bounded compartments is accomplished by a metabolically short-lived ‘*signal’ sequence in the nascent polypeptide chain. 1993EMBO Jrnl. 12 879/1 In Escherichia coli, for example, signal sequence mutations impede export of the protein and result in the accumulation of its precuror in the cytoplasm. 2004FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 23427 A typical signal sequence was not found at the N-terminus of meningococcal GGT [= gamma-glutamyl aminopeptidase].
▪ II. signal, a.|ˈsɪgnəl|
[irreg. ad. F. signalé, pa. pple. of signaler to distinguish. In senses 2 and 3 the meaning has been influenced by the n.]
1. Striking, remarkable, notable, conspicuous:
a. Of persons.
1641J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 23 Two great and signall Historians give in evidence against him [etc.]. 1670Clarendon Hist. Reb. xv. §57 He then betook himself wholly to the sea, and quickly made himself signal there. 1702Eng. Theophrastus 16 It is very easie to decide which of these impertinents is the most signal. c1780H. Walpole Last Jrnls. (1910) II. 36 The signal criminal [Dr. Dodd] suffered decently. 1805Foster Ess. ii. v. I. 178 Signal villains of every class.
b. Of things or events.
1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §100 He died in a season most opportune,..and which in truth crowned his other signal prosperity in this world. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ ii. iv. §8 The extraordinary Prophets whom God did call out on some more signal occasions. 1705Addison Italy (1733) 46 Those that are in any signal Danger. 1760–2Goldsm. Cit. W. lxxx, All now thought that he would take the most signal revenge. 1772Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) II. 195 The Israelites gained a most signal victory. 1839James Louis XIV, IV. 393 But the same French general suffered a signal reverse..in the following year. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 30 The ministers were told that the nation expected, and should have, signal redress. 1878Lecky Eng. in 18th C. II. 1 It was a signal proof of the wisdom of the English legislators.
†2. Distinctive, significative. Obs.
1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 84 Badges or signal Ornaments of the Proconsul of Asia. a1663Sanderson Cases Consc. (1678) 190 The signal note of the Godly party.
3. Constituting or serving as a sign.
1655Fuller Ch. Hist. i. 2 The signall Oak which the Druides made choice of, was such a one, on which Misletoe did grow; by which privie token, they conceived, God marked it out, as of soveraigne vertue, for his service. 1873M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma 244 Long before his signal Crucifixion Jesus had died, by taking up daily that cross which his disciples..were to take up also.
▪ III. signal, v.|ˈsɪgnəl|
[f. the n.]
1. trans. To make signals to (a person, ship, etc.); to summon, direct, or invite by signal.
1805in Nicolas Disp. Nelson (1846) VI. 463 The Captain of the Ship was signalled on board the Victory. 1892Stevenson Across Plains 1 It was..five o'clock when we were all signalled to be present at the Ferry Depôt. 1897Watts-Dunton Aylwin xii. iii, The girl came out, and signalling me to enter, went leisurely down-stairs.
2. a. To communicate or make known by signalling; to notify or announce by signal(s).
1871R. Ellis Catullus lxiv. 233 Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome. 1885Manch. Exam. 17 June 5/2 Even when storms are signalled off the Irish coast, they often take a totally new..course. 1889G. Findlay Eng. Railway 65 In 1830 the only arrangement made for signalling the trains was a flag by day or a lamp by night.
b. To mark out clearly; to signalize. Also, to indicate, esp. unofficially or indirectly. Cf. signalize v. 5.
1869Swinburne Ess. & Stud. (1875) 308 The noble dirge which signals with its majesty of music the consummation of Calantha's agony. 1873M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma (1876) 280 Signalling and extolling that character in Christianity into which fineness of perception enters most. 1962Amer. Speech XXXVII. 214 Since one member of the pair [of pronominal forms] is functionally redundant, the usage in different dialects may be expected to vary far more than for forms which signal significant differences. 1963Ibid. XXXVIII. 52 The slots, or, more accurately, the units that can fill the slots, signal their meanings by their positions relative to each other... Some units signal their meaning without regard to position. 1978Times 24 Apr. 2/1 The government seemed yesterday to be signalling its willingness to concede a reduction in the highest rates of income tax. 1979Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 20 Sept. 1a/5 U.S. economic indicators signal the dollar should be lower than current rates. 1981Times 25 Sept. 19/1 Sterling is now lower than when the Bank of England signalled higher interest rates a week last Monday.
3. To work (a railway) in respect of signals; to furnish with signalling apparatus.
1888Pall Mall G. 21 Jan. 2/1 This line was a part of the London and Greenwich Railway, and was..maintained and signalled by us. 1904Westm. Gaz. 19 June 10/2 Some portions of the principal railroads are fully signalled, but on many others hardly any signals are used.
4. intr. To give notice, warning, or information, or make any other communication, by signal.
1864Hosmer Color-Guard 76 They are signalling night and day..by flag and fire. 1877J. D. Chambers Divine Worship 199 The Officiator,..signalling to the Penitents, should begin the Antiphon. |