ob-signo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to seal, seal up a will, a letter, etc. (class.).
I Lit.
A In gen.: cedo tu ceram ac linum actutum: age obliga, obsigna cito, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 96: cellas, id. Cas. 2, 1, 1: lagenas, Q. Cic. Fam. 16, 26: epistulam, Cic. Att. 8, 6, 1; id. Pis. 28, 71.—Esp.: tabulas, testamenta, to sign and seal , as a witness: istam ipsam quaestionem, dicite, quis obsignavit? Cic. Clu. 66, 185: tabellas ejus rei condicionisque, id. Quint. 21, 67: testamentum signis adulterinis, id. Clu. 14, 41: obsignavit anulo, Vulg. Dan. 6, 17.—Prov.: agere cum aliquo tabellis obsignatis, to deal with one with sealed writings , i. e. in the strictest form , Cic. Tusc. 5, 11, 33 (cf.: tamquam ex syngraphā agere cum populo, id. Mur. 17, 35): tabulas obsignare velle, would seal up the documents , i. e. would have no discussion , id. Pis. 28, 69.—
B In partic.
1 To seal up the papers and effects of an accused person , Cic. Verr. 1, 19, 50.—Hence,
2 To seal an accusation against one: qui contra Scaurum patrem suum obsignaverat, Cic. Scaur. Fragm. ap. Ascon.—
3 To pledge or mortgage under one's hand and seal : tria agri jugera ad aerarium obsignaverat, Val. Max. 4, 4, 7.—
4 To close under seal, make fast : inane obsignari nihil solere, Cic. Div. 2, 70, 145; cf. the context.—
II Trop., to stamp, impress : formam verbi, Lucr. 4, 567: aliquid obsignatum habere, to impress on the mind , id. 2, 581.