Sign in United Kingdom

Meaning of Sign

The following is an old definition of Sign [1]: Although in general understanding refers to writing the name at the foot or bottom of a document, is not confined to that meaning. The primary meaning is to write one’s name on paper or to show or declare assent or attestation by some sign or mark. A ” signing ” may be at the beginning of a document, – within the meaning of the Statute of Frauds. Within the meaning of that statute, also, a memorandum is ” signed ” if the name is printed in a letter- head, with the contract underwritten. But it may be that a will cannot be considered as ” signed ” unless the testator’s name is affixed at the bottom, or otherwise outside the body. Countersign. (1) To sign on the side opposite to another’s name. (2) To sign what has already been signed by a superior; to authenticate by an additional signature. Where the charter of a city required a document to be ” signed ” by certain officers, ” countersigned,” prefixed to one signature, was held not to be a material irregularity. Sign a judgment. For the pfoper officer of a court to formally enter a judgment. Judgments were formerly pronounced in open court, and are still supposed to be. But now, except in the case of an issue at law, there is no actual delivery in court or elsewhere. The plaintiff or ,def endant, when the cause is in such a state that by the course of practice he is entitled to judgment, obtains an allowance or entry by the proper officer, expressing generally that judgment for a certain amount is given in his favor. This is called ” signing ” judgment. Signature. The act of writing or putting down one’s own name; and the name so set down. May imply the personal act of writing one’s own name or of actually making one’s own mark. May consist of the act of writing one’s name with intention to authenticate the instrument. At common law, includes a mark unattested, unless the instrument is one whioli must be witnessed, irrespective of the mole of signing. Where an instrument shows on its face the names of the contracting parties, an agent may sign his own name first, and add to it, ” agent ” tor his principal, . or he may sign tlie name of the principal first, and add, by himself, “as agent,” All that is required is that the contract shall purport on its face to be the contract of the principal. See Blank; Date, False; Forgery; Mark; Seal. Sign-manual. (1) The king’s signature to grants or letter-patents, as a personal, unofficial act. See Seal, 1, Great. (2) Any autograph signature.

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Notes and References

1. Concept of Sign provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)