insigne, is, n. [insignis],
I a mark , sign , signal; a distinctive mark , a badge of office (class.).
A Lit.: quod erat insigne, eum facere, etc., Cic. de Or. 3, 33, 133: Minerva singulare est insigne ejus gymnasii, id. Att. 1, 4, 3: bos in Aegypto etiam numinis vice colitur: Apim vocant. Insigne ei in dextro latere candicans macula, Plin. 8, 46, 71, § 184.— Plur. : sibi haberent honores ... sibi triumphos, sibi alia praeclarae laudis insignia, Cic. Pis. 9, 26.—
B A sign or badge of office or honor , a decoration : bulla erat indicium et insigne fortunae, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 152; id. Div. 1, 17, 36; Liv. 25, 4; Suet. Aug. 35.—Esp. in plur., insignia , attire , uniform , costume , regalia , etc.: sedebat cum purpura, et sceptro, et insignibus illis regiis, Cic. Sest. 26, 57: imperatoris, Caes. B. C. 3, 96: sacerdotum, Liv. 3, 39: pontificalia, id. 10, 7: militaria, ornaments , probably on the helmets of the officers , Caes. B. G. 7, 45: triumphorum, Suet. Aug. 29: majestatis, Just. 10, 1, 3; cf.: horum (mundi et caeli) insignia, sol, luna, etc., Cic. N. D. 1, 36, 100: vocis, the costume of a public singer , Juv. 8, 227. —
C A standard : navem Bruti, quae ex insigni facile agnosci poterat, i. e. the flag of the admiral's ship, Caes. B. C. 2, 6.—
D A signal : in praetoria nave insigne nocturnum trium luminum fore, Liv. 29, 25, 11.—
II Trop., an honor : insignia virtutis multi sine virtute adsecuti sunt, Cic. Fam. 3, 13, 1: laudis, id. Sull. 9, 26: orationis lumina et quodam modo insignia, brilliant passages , gems , id. Or. 39, 135 (v. the context): verborum et sententiarum insignia, id. de Or. 2, 9, 36; 3, 25, 96 al.