SIGILL

Sigill is a linguistic stem derived from the Latin sigillum, meaning seal or sign. In English, the more familiar form is sigil, but sigill appears in scholarly and technical terms that trace back to the same root. The combining form sigill- occurs in several words, such as sigillate (to seal with a signet or seal) and sigillography (the study of seals and seal impressions).

Historically, seals were used to authenticate documents, authorize decrees, or indicate ownership. They were made in wax, clay, metal, or other materials, and the impression left by a seal served as a signature and a symbol of authority. The study of seals—through archaeology, epigraphy, and history—helps reveal information about governance, commerce, and social networks in ancient and medieval societies.

In modern usage, sigil has a distinct meaning in folklore and occult contexts: a sigil is a symbol created to represent a desired outcome or intention, often through a ritual process. This sense, while etymologically related to the seal, typically concerns symbolic or magical representation rather than authenticating documents.

Because sigill is primarily a linguistic or etymological form rather than a standalone concept in contemporary usage, it is most commonly encountered as the root in terms like sigillography or as a historical reference to seals, rather than as an independent word with a broad dictionary definition.