seal

I

[[t]sil[/t]]

n.

1) an embossed emblem, symbol, letter, etc., used as attestation or evidence of authenticity

2) a stamp, medallion, ring, etc., engraved with such a device, for impressing paper, wax, lead, or the like

3) the impression so obtained

4) an authenticating mark or symbol, orig. wax with an impression, attached to a legal document

5) a piece of wax or similar adhesive affixed to a document, envelope, door, etc., that must be broken when the object is opened

6) anything that tightly or completely closes or secures a thing

7) something that keeps a thing secret:

Her vow was the seal that kept her silent[/ex]

8) phi a stamplike label, esp. as given to contributors to a charity:

a Christmas seal[/ex]

9) a mark, sign, symbol, or the like, serving as visible evidence of something

10) anything that serves as assurance, confirmation, or bond:

She gave the plan her seal of approval[/ex]

11) bui Plumbing.

a small amount of water held by a trap to exclude foul gases from a sewer or the like

12) to affix a seal to in authorization, testimony, etc

13) to assure, confirm, or bind with or as if with a seal

14) to impress a seal upon as evidence of legal or standard exactness, measure, quality, etc

15) to close with a fastening that must be broken to gain access

16) to fasten or close tightly by or as if by a seal

17) to decide irrevocably:

to seal someone's fate[/ex]

18) cvb phv seal off

a) to close hermetically

b) to block all access to or from, with a police barricade

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Etymology: 1175–1225; ME seel, seil(e), seale mark, token < OF seel < LL *sigellum, L sigillum II

seal

[[t]sil[/t]] n. pl. seals, (esp. collectively for1)seal,

1) mam any of numerous marine carnivores of the order Pinnipedia, including the eared seals of the family Otariidae and the earless seals of the family Phocidae

2) the skin of such an animal

3) clo leather made from this skin

4) clo the fur of the fur seal; sealskin

5) a dark gray-brown

6) to hunt, kill, or capture seals

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME sele, OE seolh, c. OHGselah, ON selr seal′like`, adj.