Obs. [a. OF. enseignement, f. enseigner to teach; cf. ENSIGN v. and -MENT.]
1. a. The action or process of showing or teaching, instruction; b. concr. that which is taught, a lesson; also, a means of instruction.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. iii. (1495), 107. He that hath the brayne nesshe, thynne and clere is swifte and good of enseynement and techynge.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, L iij. I shalle telle yow what Salamon therof seyth in the book of thenseygnement.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 154. And whan all ye people come soo togyder at this ensygnement.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. vi. 177. A ryght profytable insygnement of the practyse that the confessour ought to holde.
1575. in Laneham’s Lett. (1871), 93. He ensued not the ensygnementes nor the doctryne of the dyuyne sapyence.
1600. Holland, Livy, V. li. 212. We are made an example and ensignement [documento] to the whole world.
2. A badge or symbol of office; = ENSIGN 4.
1567. R. Mulcaster, Fortescue’s De Laud. Leg., 121. A white quoife of silke: which is the principal and chief insignement of habite wherewith serjeantes at lawe in their creation are decked.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xii. (1632), 703. King Edward also deuised … distinctive habites and ensignements, whereof the principall was the azure Garter.
