Sigillatio

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A method of sealing letters or documents using a wax stamp to create an impression
2. an ancient technique of affixing a seal to signify authenticity or ownership
3. a ceremonial or legal practice involving the use of a stamped seal to indicate approval or protection

Etymology: "Sigillatio" is a Latin noun meaning the act of stamping or sealing, formed from "sigillare" ("to seal, to mark with a seal") with the suffix "-atio," which turns a verb into a noun of action. The base "sigillum" means "small image" or "seal," a diminutive of "signum" ("sign, mark"), so a seal was originally a little sign pressed into wax or clay. The same root gave English "seal," "sign," and "signet," which share the idea of a mark that certifies. The Latin word was used in Roman and later medieval contexts for the stamping of a document, the impressing of a seal onto wax or clay to authenticate it. Because seals were the main way to guarantee that a document was genuine and approved, the act of sealing carried legal weight. The noun is rare in English and is mainly found in specialist or historical writing, where it names this practice of stamping a seal to confirm approval or protection.

Synonyms: stamping, sealing