v. [Corresponds to F. consigne-r (14th c.) = Pr. and Sp. consegnar, It. consegnare, ad. L. consignāre, to furnish, mark, or attest with a seal, f. con- + signāre to mark, sign, seal, f. signum mark, SIGN.]
I. To seal, sign.
† 1. trans. To mark with the sign of the cross, as in baptism or esp. confirmation; spec. to confirm; also fig. [So med.L. consignare, obs. F. consigner.]
1537. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. lxxxviii. 245. That they [the Bishops] laying their hands upon them and consigning them with holy chrism, should pray for them, that they might be confirmed in the H. Ghost.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 33. The Bishop first baptiz’d him, then consign’d him. Ibid. (1649), Gt. Exemp., I. vi. (R.). In baptism we are admitted to the kingdom of Christ … consigned with his sacrament.
1683. Hickes, Case Inf. Bapt., 52. It may be thou art afraid to have him Consigned, because of the weakness of his Nature.
b. Const. to, unto: To commit or dedicate thus.
1533. Tindale, Lord’s Supp., 44. So that by baptism we be initiated and consigned unto the worship of one God in one faith.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. vi. (R.).
a. 1713. Sharp, Wks., V. iii. (R.). Having taken upon ourselves the covenant of baptism, and thereby consecrated and consigned ourselves unto God.
† 2. To attest, confirm, ratify (as with a sign or seal). Obs.
(The sense of the first quot., which is a century earlier than any other known, is uncertain.)
c. 1430. ? Lydg., Ballad of our Lady (R.). Cristallen well, of clerenesse clere consigned.
a. 1536. Tindale, Wks., 457 (R.). For my father hath consigned and confirmed me with his assured testimonie, to bee that assured sauyng health.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., iii. § 44. Now your main business is to prove the present Church infallible, not so much in consigning ancient Traditions, as in defining emergent controversies.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., xxiii. 223. When God made a covenant with Abraham he did for the present consigne that covenant with the Sacrament of circumcision.
1849. W. Fitzgerald, trans. Whitaker’s Disput., 292. The old and new Testaments do, by their mutual testimony, establish and consign each other.
† 3. To mark with a seal or sign. Obs. rare.
1623. Cockeram, Consigne, to seale or print.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. vi. § 16. The Primitive Christians … consigned all their affairs and goods and writings with some marks of their Lord, usually writing Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ υἰὸς Σωτὴρ.
† 4. To put one’s seal to; to seal, sign, subscribe.
a. 1714. Burnet, Own Time (1823), II. III. 132. Primerose … said it was the greatest glory of his life, that the four greatest enemies he had should come and consign the damnation of their souls in his hands.
† 5. intr. To set one’s seal, subscribe, agree to anything. Obs.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., V. ii. 143. Heauen consigning to my good intents. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., V. ii. 326. It were (my Lord) a hard Condition for a Maid to consigne to.
† b. ‘To submit to the same terms with another’ (J.); ‘to seal the same contract with’ (Steevens).
1611. Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 275. Thou hast finish’d Ioy and Mone! All Louers young, all Louers must Consigne to thee, and come to dust.
II. To hand over formally.
† 6. trans. ? To deliver under one’s seal or signature. Obs.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., Ad. Sect. I. § 7. [The Virgin Mary] hath consigned an excellent document to all women.
1683. Hickes, Case Inf. Bapt., 33. It is instituted for a Sign from God … to consign unto us the benefits of the Covenant.
7. To make over as a possession, to deliver formally or commit, to a state, fate, etc.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 175. It [the City] was soone given up, and the Rebels consigned him alive.
1636. Massinger, Bashf. Lover, I. ii. If … I should consign her, as a bondwoman, To be disposed of at another’s pleasure.
1718. Prior, Solomon, III. 545. When this vital breath Ceasing, consigns me o’er to rest and death.
1791. Paine, Rights of Man (ed. 4), 12. When kings … consigned the people, like beasts of the field, to whatever successor they appointed.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., II. xviii. 148. Their desponding imaginations had already consigned him to a watery grave.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xix. 240. The chapter from Job which has consigned so many to their last resting-place.
† b. To give over or devote to a purpose or use.
1700. Dryden, Fables, Ded. Wks. (Globe), 492. The French commander … accordingly consigned it [a sum of money] to the use for which it was intended by the donor.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 60. Some spot to real happiness consign’d.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 337. The only service … to which this statute is now consigned.
† c. To deliver or commit (to writing). Obs.
a. 1719. Addison, Chr. Relig., vi. Wks. 1726, III. 309. The four Evangelists … consigned to writing that history, which for some years had been published only by the mouth of the Apostles and Disciples.
8. To hand over to another for custody; to entrust or commit to another’s charge or care.
1528. Wriothesley, in Pocock, Rec. Ref., I. xli. 80. He is contented that some Englishmen … shall have all the prizes … consigned into their hands.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, IV. ii. 108. To accompany him into the double Sentinels, and consigne him vnto them.
1612. W. Shute, trans. Fougasses’s Venice, II. 499. The French Ambassador did presently consigne them [prisoners] into the hands of the Cardinall.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, II. 113. The drops to thee, Brillante, we consign; And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine.
1829. Lytton, Devereux, II. vi. Consigning our horses to the care of our grooms.
9. To deposit (money); in Sc. Law, to deposit money with a third party, in a bank, etc., pending a trial or arbitration; formerly, also, as a pledge that an accusation would be substantiated: see CONSIGNATION 5. [Cf. F. consigner, in same sense.]
1633. Galston Sess. Rec., in Edgar, Old Ch. Life Scot. (1885), 205. She is appointed to consign 2l. 0s. 0d.
1640–1. Kirkcudbr. War-Comm. Min. Bk. (1855), 58. The Committie … ordaines the said David Macbrair to present the boy that delyverit the horss, or else to consygne for the horss jc merks.
a. 1698. Temple, Lett. to Sir J. Trevor (R.). We would not do any thing towards it till he had powers to consign the money immediately.
1861. W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot., 221. In practice, it is usual to consign money in a public bank, so that the party entitled to it receives it with bank interest for the time it has remained consigned.
1868. Act 31–2 Vict., c. 101. § 122. The creditor … shall … consign the surplus … in one or other of the said banks.
10. Comm. To deliver or transmit (goods) for sale or custody: usually implying their transit by ship, railway, or other public carrier.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xiii. 40. Factor for the Captain of Malacca, into whose hands I consigned all the Merchandise that I brought along with me.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., In the way of Trade, Goods are said To be consigned to a Factor, when they are sent him by his Employer to be sold, etc.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 80, ¶ 3. A Ship put into the Island consigned to a Friend of Phillis.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 329. The merchants of Mexico, to whom these cargoes were separately consigned, made the return … all in silver or in gold.
1866. H. Phillips, Amer. Paper Curr., II. 124. A ship had arrived laden with goods and consigned to Robert Morris.
1883. Law Rep., 24 Chanc. Div. 54, head-note. K. had consigned cargoes to M. by several different ships.
† 11. To commission (a person) to do anything.
1704. Addison, Italy (1733), 211. I have consign’d Walter Welsh to write.
12. To inflict confinement on: see CONSIGNMENT 5
