znamienia

Znamienia is a plural noun used in several Slavic languages to denote signs, omens, or symbols that signal or indicate something. In religious or prophetic contexts it can refer to a divine sign or portent, while in folklore or literature it may describe a meaningful omen. In more historical or heraldic contexts the term can also appear as a designation for emblems or marks used to identify a person, group, or authority.

Etymology and cognates across languages reflect a common root meaning “sign” or “signal.” In Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian, related forms appear as znamienie or znamenie in various dialects and historical spellings, all tracing back to a Proto-Slavic origin. The precise sense varies by language and period, ranging from a simple sign or signal to a portent or emblem.

Usage and modern status: In contemporary Polish, znaczenie is the ordinary word for “meaning,” while znamienie is comparatively rare and tends to appear in literary, historical, or religious texts with senses of sign, omen, or emblem. In Russian and Ukrainian literary and liturgical language, equivalents of znameniye or znamennya are common for “sign,” “omen,” or “signal,” often carrying a weightier or sacred nuance than casual usage. Outside religious and old-script contexts, znamienia is predominantly a historical or stylistic term rather than everyday vocabulary.

See also: znamya (banner or emblem in some Slavic languages), znamenie (sign), znaczenie (meaning in Polish).