monosignn.
/ˈmɒnə(ʊ)sʌɪn/, U.S. /ˈmɑnəˌsaɪn/ Chiefly Literary Theory. Now rare.
A sign or word used with only one meaning at a time. Opposed to plurisign n.
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the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > monosemy > [noun] > sign or word with only one meaning
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monosign1940
1940 P. Wheelwright in Kenyon Rev. 2 266 The atomic ingredient of literal language is the monosign (called in logic the ‘term’); the atomic ingredient of poetic language tends to be the plurisign.
1949 R. Wellek & E. A. Warren Theory of Lit. xv. 190 Instead of aiming at a system of abstractions consistently expressed by a system of monosigns, poetry organizes a unique, unrepeatable pattern of words, each an object as well as a sign.
1954 P. Wheelwright Burning Fountain 378 The plurisign is..distinguished from the monosign, or steno-term.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1940