[ad. L. consignātiōnem, n. of action f. consignāre to CONSIGN: so in F. (16th c. in Littré).]
† 1. The action of marking or blessing with the sign of the cross, esp. in the rite of confirmation.
1537. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. lxxxviii. 234. The words Signo te signo sanctæ crucis, et confirmo te, etc. with the consignation, with the cream, imposition of hands of the Prelats, be the signes.
1605. L. Hutten, An Answere, 100. This consignation of the childs forehead in Baptisme.
1617. Bp. Hall, Quo Vadis, § 14. The daily and frequent consignation with the crosse is not to no purpose.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 34. The holy Ghost was … given to faithfull people after Baptisme … only by Apostolicall, or Episcopall consignation and imposition of hands.
1868. J. Blunt, Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 459. Consignation with holy chrism.
† b. fig. Obs. Cf. to seal.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 439. His eternall consignation of his elect, and his careful marking them out for their preservation.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Duct. Dubit., I. iv. This blessed person made … glorious by miraculous consignations.
1822. Heber, in Jer. Taylor’s Wks. (1839), I. p. cclviii. Extraordinary effects and miraculous consignations.
† 2. Sealing, signing; confirmation or ratification under seal; attestation. Obs.
1605. M. Sutcliffe, Briefe Exam. Petit. Lay Cath., 18. The scriptures being consigned by god … need no new consignation … of the pope.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., v. 98. If a generall and indefinite Consignation or Tradition be sufficient to warrant euery particular that pretends to be Tradition.
1654. ‘Palæmon,’ Friendship, 26. After so solemn a Consignation of Secrecy ’twixt the Conspiratours.
1849. W. Fitzgerald, trans. Whitaker’s Disput., 311. The apostles’ consignation of the canon of scripture.
† 3. A consigning to a state or condition. Obs.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living (1727), 200. As the hope of salvation is a good disposition towards it, so is despair a certain consignation to eternal ruin.
1684. T. Hockin, God’s Decrees, 312. The doing of our duty is the truest consignation to happiness.
† 4. The action of formally delivering or making over into another’s hands. Obs.
1612. W. Shute, trans. Fougasses’s Venice, II. 499. The forme of the consignation [of prisoners] inregestred by a publike Notary.
1678. trans. Gaya’s Art of War, I. 67. The Consignation being made, and the Sentinels relieved.
5. The action of formally paying over money, as into a bank, or to a person legally appointed to receive it; also a sum of money thus deposited. In Sc. Law: ‘The depositation in the hands of a third party of a sum of money, which is the subject either of a dispute or of a competition’ (W. Bell); formerly also as a pledge, as in quots. 1670, 1885.
1588. J. Mellis, Briefe Instr., B vij b. By consignation of debtes.
1670. Mauchline Sess. Rec., in Edgar, Old Ch. Life Scot. (1885), 206. The Session declared her consignation forfaltit.
1721. Lond. Gaz., No. 5969/3. Paper-Effects brought into the Offices of the Receivers of Consignations [in Paris].
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 211. An instrument of consignation … being but the assertion of a notary, cannot fix the receipt of consigned money upon the consignatary, without an acknowledgment subscribed by himself.
1869. Act 32–3 Vict., c. 116 § 7. Payment … by consignation thereof in the bank specified in the security.
1885. Edgar, Old Ch. Life Scot., 205. Every accuser had to table so much money as a pledge that the accusation would be proved, and the money so pledged was forfeited to the Session for pious uses in the event of its being found that the charge was either false or not proven. This pledge was called a consignation, and the common amount of it was 40s. Scots.
6. The action of consigning goods for sale or custody; = CONSIGNMENT 3. To the consignation of: = addressed or directed to as consignee.
1755. Magens, Insurances, I. 340. Invoice of Sugars … shipped … to the Consignation of Mr. J. L. D. and Mr. J. B.
1758. Ld. Mansfield, in Burrow, Rep., I. 494. There might have been a former consignation, and some former insurance made upon the goods.
1837. Whittock, Bk. Trades (1842), 220. If goods consigned be generally sold on credit at the place of consignation, the Factor will be vindicated, etc.
1884. Sala, Journ. due South, I. v. (1887), 67. After unloading what cargo he had to the consignation of Nice.
† 7. Astrol. (See quot.) Obs.
1656. Dugard, Gate Lat. Unl., 165. By calculating the motions of the stars, they make Ephemerides, that is, consignations at the noon-hour of every day, where every planet will bee, and of what aspect towards one another.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 27/2. Ephemerides is the consignation of the Planets, where they be every Noon.
