signare

Signare is a verb of Romance-language origin used in historical or regional forms to denote the act of signing or marking with a sign. In Italian, signare is largely archaic or regional; modern standard Italian uses firmare for signing documents, while signare may appear in older texts to describe the act of affixing a sign or signature to a document, order, or inscription.

Etymology: the word derives from Latin signare, from signum meaning “sign” or “signal.”

Usage and context: signare is typically encountered in paleographic, archival, or literary contexts rather than in everyday speech. Its sense centers on the act of placing a sign, mark, or signature, as distinct from modern routines of signing with the standard verb firmare.

Cognates exist in other Romance languages, but their current usage varies and they are often considered archaic or literary in contemporary contexts. In modern Italian, the preferred terminology for signing remains firmare, while signare may be cited for historical discussion of documents and seals.

See also: sign, signature, seal.