sign manual

UK/ˌsʌɪn ˈmanjʊəl/

noun

An authentic signature; (especially), the signature of a sovereign, used to validate a formal document.

OriginMiddle French signe →
First used 15th c.
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Meanings

nounsign manual (plural signs manual)

plural signs manual

  1. An authentic signature; (especially), the signature of a sovereign, used to validate a formal document.First known use 15th c.

    We were undeceived by the King's sign manual for our embodying, which was issued May 10th 1760.

    1789, Edward Gibbon, Memoirs of My Life, Penguin, published 1990, page 124

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchsigne
  2. Englishsign manual

From sign + manual, probably after Middle French signe manuel.

More words from Middle French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

sign manual. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sign%20manual

MLA

“sign manual.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sign%20manual. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sign manual,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sign%20manual.

Source: sign manual on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.