10 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Seal \Seal\ (s[=e]l), noun [OE. sele, AS. seolh; akin to OHG.
selah, Dan. s[ae]l, Sw. sj["a]l, Icel. selr.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families {Phocid[ae]}
and {Otariid[ae]}.
Note: Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in
the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are
numerous species, bearing such popular names as {sea
lion}, {sea leopard}, {sea bear}, or {ursine seal},
{fur seal}, and {sea elephant}. The bearded seal
({Erignathus barbatus}), the hooded seal ({Cystophora
cristata}), and the ringed seal ({Phoca f[oe]tida}),
are northern species. See also {Eared seal}, {Harp
seal}, {Monk seal}, and {Fur seal}, under {Eared},
{Harp}, {Monk}, and {Fur}. Seals are much hunted for
their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in
some species is very abundant.
{Harbor seal} (Zo["o]l.), the common seal ({Phoca vitulina}).
It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific
Ocean, and often ascends rivers; -- called also {marbled
seal}, {native seal}, {river seal}, {bay seal}, {land
seal}, {sea calf}, {sea cat}, {sea dog}, {dotard},
{ranger}, {selchie}, {tangfish}.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Seal \Seal\, noun [OE. seel, OF. seel, F. sceau, fr. L. sigillum a
little figure or image, a seal, dim. of signum a mark, sign,
figure, or image. See {Sign}, noun, and cf. {Sigil}.]
1. An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an
impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached
to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication
or security.
2. Wax, wafer, or other tenacious substance, set to an
instrument, and impressed or stamped with a seal; as, to
give a deed under hand and seal.
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud.
--Shak.
3. That which seals or fastens; esp., the wax or wafer placed
on a letter or other closed paper, etc., to fasten it.
4. That which confirms, ratifies, or makes stable; that which
authenticates; that which secures; assurance. ''Under the
seal of silence.'' --Milton.
Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done.
--Longfellow.
5. An arrangement for preventing the entrance or return of
gas or air into a pipe, by which the open end of the pipe
dips beneath the surface of water or other liquid, or a
deep bend or sag in the pipe is filled with the liquid; a
draintrap.
{Great seal}. See under {Great}.
{Privy seal}. See under {Privy}, adjective
{Seal lock}, a lock in which the keyhole is covered by a seal
in such a way that the lock can not be opened without
rupturing the seal.
{Seal manual}. See under {Manual}, adjective
{Seal ring}, a ring having a seal engraved on it, or
ornamented with a device resembling a seal; a signet ring.
--Shak.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Seal \Seal\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Sealed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Sealing}.] [OE. selen; cf. OF. seeler, seieler, F. sceller,
LL. sigillare. See {Seal} a stamp.]
1. To set or affix a seal to; hence, to authenticate; to
confirm; to ratify; to establish; as, to seal a deed.
And with my hand I seal my true heart's love.
--Shak.
2. To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard
exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality; as, to
seal weights and measures; to seal silverware.
3. To fasten with a seal; to attach together with a wafer,
wax, or other substance causing adhesion; as, to seal a
letter.
4. Hence, to shut close; to keep close; to make fast; to keep
secure or secret.
Seal up your lips, and give no words but ''mum''.
--Shak.
5. To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement,
plaster, or the like. --Gwilt.
6. To close by means of a seal; as, to seal a drainpipe with
water. See 2d {Seal}, 5.
7. Among the Mormons, to confirm or set apart as a second or
additional wife. [Utah, U.S.]
If a man once married desires a second helpmate . .
. she is sealed to him under the solemn sanction of
the church. --H.
Stansbury.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Seal \Seal\, verb (used without an object)
To affix one's seal, or a seal. [Obs.]
I will seal unto this bond. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
seal
noun
1: fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is
plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and
parcels and letters [syn: {sealing wax}]
2: a device incised to make an impression; used to secure a
closing or to authenticate documents [syn: {stamp}]
3: the pelt or fur (especially the underfur) of a seal; "a coat
of seal" [syn: {sealskin}]
4: a member of a Naval Special Warfare unit who is trained for
unconventional warfare; "SEAL is an acronym for Sea Air
and Land" [syn: {Navy SEAL}]
5: a stamp affixed to a document (as to attest to its
authenticity or to seal it); "the warrant bore the
sheriff's seal"
6: an indication of approved or superior status [syn: {cachet},
{seal of approval}]
7: a finishing coat applied to exclude moisture
8: fastener that provides a tight and perfect closure
9: any of numerous marine mammals that come on shore to breed;
chiefly of cold regions
verb
1: close with or as if with a seal; "She sealed the letter with
hot wax" [ant: {unseal}]
2: make tight; secure against leakage; "seal the windows" [syn:
{seal off}]
3: decide irrevocably; "sealing dooms"
4: affix a seal to; "seal the letter"
5: cover with varnish [syn: {varnish}]
6: hunt seals
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
428 Moby Thesaurus words for "seal":
John Hancock, OK, X, accept, acceptance, accredit, affirm,
affirmance, affirmation, agree on terms, amen, approbation,
approval, approve, aroma, assurance, assure, attest, attestation,
attribute, authenticate, authentication, authorization, authorize,
autograph, badge, bang, banner, bar, barricade, batten,
batten down, bearing, beige, billhead, blaze, blaze a trail,
blemish, blotch, bolt, book stamp, bookplate, boss, brand,
broad arrow, brown, brownish, brownish-yellow, brunet, bump, burin,
button, button up, cachet, cap of dignity, cap of maintenance,
cartouche, cast, casting, certification, certify, chalk, chalk up,
character, characteristic, check, check off, chocolate, choke,
choke off, christcross, cicatrize, cinnamon, cipher, clap, clinch,
close, close off, close up, coat of arms, cocoa, cocoa-brown,
coffee, coffee-brown, colophon, concavity, conclude, configuration,
confirm, confirmation, constrict, contain, contract, convexity,
cork, coronet, corroborate, corroboration, cosign, counterfoil,
countermark, countersign, countersignature, counterstamp, cover,
crest, cross, crown, cut, dactylogram, dactylograph, dapple, dash,
decide, define, delimit, demarcate, dent, design, determine,
device, diadem, die, differentia, differential, dint, discolor,
distinctive feature, docket, dot, drab, dun, dun-brown, dun-drab,
earmark, ecru, emblem, embossment, endorse, endorsement, engrave,
engraving tool, ensure, ermine, escutcheon, etching ball,
etching ground, etching needle, etching point, evidence,
excrescence, fasten, fawn, fawn-colored, feature, figure,
fingerprint, fix, flavor, fleck, fold, fold up, footmark,
footprint, footstep, form, formalize, fossil footprint, freckle,
fuscous, gash, give permission, give the go-ahead,
give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, go-ahead, government mark,
government stamp, graver, great seal, green light, grege,
guarantee, guaranty, gust, hallmark, hand, hatch, hazel, ichnite,
ichnolite, identification, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, image, impress,
impression, imprimatur, imprint, indent, indentation, indention,
index, indicant, indicator, individualism, initial, initials,
insignia, intaglio, key, keynote, khaki, label, last, latch,
letterhead, line, lineaments, lock, lock out, lock up, logo,
logotype, lump, lurid, make a mark, mannerism, mark,
mark of signature, mark off, mark out, marking, masthead, matrix,
measure, mint, mold, molding, monogram, mottle, nature, needle,
negative, nick, nod, notarization, notarize, notch, note, notice,
notification, nut-brown, occlude, odor, okay, olive-brown,
olive-drab, orb, pad, padlock, particularity, pass, pass on,
pass upon, paw print, pawmark, peculiarity, pencil, pepper,
permission, permit, picture, pimple, plate, plug up, plumb, point,
price tag, prick, print, privy seal, property, pug, pugmark, punch,
punctuate, puncture, purple, purple pall, purpose, quality, quirk,
ratification, ratify, regalia, registered trademark,
representation, representative, resolve, riddle, robe of state,
rocker, rod, rod of empire, royal crown, rubber stamp,
running head, running title, sanction, savor, say amen to, scar,
scarify, scepter, score, scorper, scotch, scratch, seal off,
seal up, seal-brown, seam, second, secure, sepia, settle,
shake hands, shape, shoe last, shut, shut off, shut the door,
shut up, sigil, sign, sign and seal, sign manual, signal,
signature, signet, singularity, slam, smack, snap, snuff-colored,
sorrel, specialty, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, squeeze shut,
stain, stamp, stamp of approval, step, sticker, stigmatize,
stop up, strangle, streak, striate, strike a bargain, stripe, stub,
stud, style, subscribe to, subscription, substantiation, support,
sure sign, swear and affirm, swear to, symbol, symptom, tab, tag,
taint, take a resolution, tally, tan, tang, taste, tattoo, taupe,
tawny, telltale sign, template, the nod, thumbmark, thumbprint,
tiara, tick, tick off, ticket, title page, toast, toast-brown,
token, trace, trade name, trademark, trademark name, trait, trick,
triple plume, umber, umber-colored, underline, underscore,
undersign, uraeus, validate, validation, verification, verify,
vestige, visa, vise, walnut, walnut-brown, warrant, will,
yellowish-brown, zip up, zipper
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
SEAL
Semantics-directed Environment Adaptation Language.
{(ftp://ftp.cwi.nl/pub/gipe/0092b.ps.Z)}.
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
SEAL, noun A mark impressed upon certain kinds of documents to attest
their authenticity and authority. Sometimes it is stamped upon wax,
and attached to the paper, sometimes into the paper itself. Sealing,
in this sense, is a survival of an ancient custom of inscribing
important papers with cabalistic words or signs to give them a magical
efficacy independent of the authority that they represent. In the
British museum are preserved many ancient papers, mostly of a
sacerdotal character, validated by necromantic pentagrams and other
devices, frequently initial letters of words to conjure with; and in
many instances these are attached in the same way that seals are
appended now. As nearly every reasonless and apparently meaningless
custom, rite or observance of modern times had origin in some remote
utility, it is pleasing to note an example of ancient nonsense
evolving in the process of ages into something really useful. Our
word "sincere" is derived from _sine cero_, without wax, but the
learned are not in agreement as to whether this refers to the absence
of the cabalistic signs, or to that of the wax with which letters were
formerly closed from public scrutiny. Either view of the matter will
serve one in immediate need of an hypothesis. The initials L.S.,
commonly appended to signatures of legal documents, mean _locum
sigillis_, the place of the seal, although the seal is no longer used
-- an admirable example of conservatism distinguishing Man from the
beasts that perish. The words _locum sigillis_ are humbly suggested
as a suitable motto for the Pribyloff Islands whenever they shall take
their place as a sovereign State of the American Union.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Seal
commonly a ring engraved with some device (Gen. 38:18, 25).
Jezebel "wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his
seal" (1 Kings 21:8). Seals are frequently mentioned in Jewish
history (Deut. 32:34; Neh. 9:38; 10:1; Esther 3:12; Cant. 8:6;
Isa. 8:16; Jer. 22:24; 32:44, etc.). Sealing a document was
equivalent to the signature of the owner of the seal. "The use
of a signet-ring by the monarch has recently received a
remarkable illustration by the discovery of an impression of
such a signet on fine clay at Koyunjik, the site of the ancient
Nineveh. This seal appears to have been impressed from the bezel
of a metallic finger-ring. It is an oval, 2 inches in length by
1 inch wide, and bears the image, name, and titles of the
Egyptian king Sabaco" (Rawlinson's Hist. Illus. of the O.T., p.
46). The actual signet-rings of two Egyptian kings (Cheops and
Horus) have been discovered. (See {SIGNET}.)
The use of seals is mentioned in the New Testament only in
connection with the record of our Lord's burial (Matt. 27:66).
The tomb was sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests for the
purpose of making sure that the disciples would not come and
steal the body away (ver. 63, 64). The mode of doing this was
probably by stretching a cord across the stone and sealing it at
both ends with sealing-clay. When God is said to have sealed the
Redeemer, the meaning is, that he has attested his divine
mission (John 6:27). Circumcision is a seal, an attestation of
the covenant (Rom. 4:11). Believers are sealed with the Spirit,
as God's mark put upon them (Eph. 1:13; 4:30). Converts are by
Paul styled the seal of his apostleship, i.e., they are its
attestation (1 Cor. 9:2). Seals and sealing are frequently
mentioned in the book of Revelation (5:1; 6:1; 7:3; 10:4;
22:10).
From Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (Version 1.9, June 2002) [vera]:
SEAL
Simple and Efficient Adaptation Layer (ATM)