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==Etymology==
Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin signatura, from [[Latin]] signatus, past participle of signare to sign, seal
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1536]
==Definitions==
*1 a : the [[act]] of signing one's name to something
:b : the [[name]] of a [[person]] written with his or her own hand
*2 : a feature in the [[appearance]] or qualities of a natural object formerly held to indicate its utility in [[medicine]]
*3 a : a [[letter]] or figure placed usually at the bottom of the first page on each sheet of printed pages (as of a [[book]]) as a direction to the binder in arranging and gathering the sheets
:b : one [[unit]] of a [[book]] comprising a [[group]] of printed sheets that are folded and stitched together
*4 a : key signature
:b : time signature
*5 : the part of a medical prescription that contains the directions to the patient
*6 : something (as a tune, style, or logo) that serves to set apart or [[identify]]; also : a characteristic mark
*7 : fingerprint
==Description==
A '''signature''' (from [[Latin]] signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and sometimes stylized) depiction of someone's [[name]], nickname or even a simple "X" that a [[person]] writes on [[documents]] as a [[proof]] of [[identity]] and [[intent]]. The [[writer]] of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature [[work]] describes the work as readily identifying its [[creator]].
==Function and types of signatures==
The [[traditional]] function of a signature is evidential: it is to give [[evidence]] of:
*1. The provenance of the [[document]] ([[identity]])
*2. The [[intention]] (will) of an [[individual]] with regard to that document
For example, the role of a signature in many consumer [[contract]]s is not solely to provide [[evidence]] of the [[identity]] of the contracting party, but rather to additionally provide [[evidence]] of deliberation and informed [[consent]]. This is why the signature often appears at the bottom or end of a [[document]].
In many countries, signatures may be [[witnessed]] and recorded in the [[presence]] of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_Public Notary Public] to carry additional [[legal]] [[force]]. On legal [[documents]], an illiterate signatory can make a "mark" (often an "X" but occasionally a personalized [[symbol]]), so long as the document is countersigned by a literate [[witness]]. In some countries, illiterates place a thumbprint on legal documents in lieu of a written signature.
There are many other terms which are synonymous with 'signature'. In the United States, one is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock John Hancock], named after the first of the signatories of the United States [[Declaration of Independence]].
The signature of a famous [[person]] is sometimes known as an ''autograph'', and is then typically [[written]] on its own or with a brief note to the recipient. Rather than providing [[authentication]] for a [[document]], the autograph is given as a souvenir which acknowledges the recipient's [[access]] to the autographer.
In the United States, some states’ legal definition of a signature defines a signature to mean "any memorandum, mark, or sign made with [[intent]] to [[authenticate]] any instrument or [[writing]], or the subscription of any [[person]] thereto." In the [[context]] of one particular statute, a signature doesn’t have to be the popular notion of a written name, but may be other [[methods]] of [[authentication]]; the [[intent]] of any mark or memorandum makes a signature.
Many [[individuals]] have much more fanciful signatures than their [[normal]] cursive writing, including elaborate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascender_(typography) ascenders], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descender descenders] and exotic [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flourish flourishes], much as one would find in [[calligraphic]] writing. As an example, the final "k" in John Hancock's famous signature on the US [[Declaration of Independence]] loops back to underline his name. This kind of flourish is also known as a [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paraph paraph].
[[Category: General Reference]]
==Etymology==
Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin signatura, from [[Latin]] signatus, past participle of signare to sign, seal
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1536]
==Definitions==
*1 a : the [[act]] of signing one's name to something
:b : the [[name]] of a [[person]] written with his or her own hand
*2 : a feature in the [[appearance]] or qualities of a natural object formerly held to indicate its utility in [[medicine]]
*3 a : a [[letter]] or figure placed usually at the bottom of the first page on each sheet of printed pages (as of a [[book]]) as a direction to the binder in arranging and gathering the sheets
:b : one [[unit]] of a [[book]] comprising a [[group]] of printed sheets that are folded and stitched together
*4 a : key signature
:b : time signature
*5 : the part of a medical prescription that contains the directions to the patient
*6 : something (as a tune, style, or logo) that serves to set apart or [[identify]]; also : a characteristic mark
*7 : fingerprint
==Description==
A '''signature''' (from [[Latin]] signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and sometimes stylized) depiction of someone's [[name]], nickname or even a simple "X" that a [[person]] writes on [[documents]] as a [[proof]] of [[identity]] and [[intent]]. The [[writer]] of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature [[work]] describes the work as readily identifying its [[creator]].
==Function and types of signatures==
The [[traditional]] function of a signature is evidential: it is to give [[evidence]] of:
*1. The provenance of the [[document]] ([[identity]])
*2. The [[intention]] (will) of an [[individual]] with regard to that document
For example, the role of a signature in many consumer [[contract]]s is not solely to provide [[evidence]] of the [[identity]] of the contracting party, but rather to additionally provide [[evidence]] of deliberation and informed [[consent]]. This is why the signature often appears at the bottom or end of a [[document]].
In many countries, signatures may be [[witnessed]] and recorded in the [[presence]] of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notary_Public Notary Public] to carry additional [[legal]] [[force]]. On legal [[documents]], an illiterate signatory can make a "mark" (often an "X" but occasionally a personalized [[symbol]]), so long as the document is countersigned by a literate [[witness]]. In some countries, illiterates place a thumbprint on legal documents in lieu of a written signature.
There are many other terms which are synonymous with 'signature'. In the United States, one is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock John Hancock], named after the first of the signatories of the United States [[Declaration of Independence]].
The signature of a famous [[person]] is sometimes known as an ''autograph'', and is then typically [[written]] on its own or with a brief note to the recipient. Rather than providing [[authentication]] for a [[document]], the autograph is given as a souvenir which acknowledges the recipient's [[access]] to the autographer.
In the United States, some states’ legal definition of a signature defines a signature to mean "any memorandum, mark, or sign made with [[intent]] to [[authenticate]] any instrument or [[writing]], or the subscription of any [[person]] thereto." In the [[context]] of one particular statute, a signature doesn’t have to be the popular notion of a written name, but may be other [[methods]] of [[authentication]]; the [[intent]] of any mark or memorandum makes a signature.
Many [[individuals]] have much more fanciful signatures than their [[normal]] cursive writing, including elaborate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascender_(typography) ascenders], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descender descenders] and exotic [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flourish flourishes], much as one would find in [[calligraphic]] writing. As an example, the final "k" in John Hancock's famous signature on the US [[Declaration of Independence]] loops back to underline his name. This kind of flourish is also known as a [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paraph paraph].
[[Category: General Reference]]
