Lexical Definition

‎σημαίνω‎ sēmaínō (say-mah'-ee-no) to signify ^G:V
from (a mark

signify.

• of uncertain derivation)
• to indicate

Abbott-Smith

σημαίνω (< σῆμα, a sign), [in LXX for רוּעַ hi., תָּקַע, etc. ;]
to give a sign, signify, indicate: c. acc. rei, Ac 25:27, Re 1:1 (cf. MM, xxii); c. acc. et inf., Ac 11:28; seq. quæst. indir., Jo 12:33 18:32 21:19.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

σημαίνω,

[Refs 8th c.BC+]; σᾱμαίνω, [Refs]: Ionic dialect imperfect σημαίνεσκον [Refs 4th c.AD+]: future σημᾰνῶ [Refs 5th c.BC+], Ionic dialect -ᾰνέω[Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist ἐσήμηνα[Refs 5th c.BC+], Epic dialect σήμηνα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but in codices of [NT+5th c.BC+]: perfect σεσήμαγκα [Refs 4th c.BC+] —middle, future σημᾰνοῦμαι, Ionic dialect -έομαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐσημηνάμην [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, future σημανθήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future middle in passive sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐσημάνθην [Refs 4th c.BC+]: perfect σεσήμασμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. singular σεσήμανται [Refs 5th c.BC+], infinitive σεσημάνθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: (σῆμα):—show by a sign, indicate, point out, τέρματα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τοῦτον σημήνας after indicating the person, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. εὔδια πάντα (i.e. εἶναι) [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —middle, πάντα σημαίνει you have all things shown you (?), [Refs]

__2 absolutely, give signs, φθόγγος, φῶς σ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. καπνῷ make signal, [Refs 5th c.BC+] in future with αὐτός, πλοῦς αὐτὸς σημανεῖ [Refs]; αὐτὸ σημανεῖ (without substantive) [Refs]
__3 of the Delphic oracle, οὔτε λέγει οὔτε κρύπτει ἀλλὰ σημαίνει [Refs 1st c.AD+]; so of omens, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, σημαίνεσθαι διὰ τῶν ἐμπύρων [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__4 in later Prose intransitive, appear, be manifest, [Refs 4th c.BC+] (but passive in same sense,[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4.b σημαίνει impersonal, signs appear, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II give a sign or signal to do a thing, or bid one do it, with dative person et infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; give orders to, bear command over, with dative, πᾶσι δὲ σημαίνειν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; with genitive, στρατοῦ [Refs 8th c.BC+]: absolutely, give orders, ὁ δὲ σημαίνων ἐπέτελλεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]participle, σημαίνων,= σημάντωρ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2 in war or battle, give the signal of attack, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+] give a signal for retreat, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+], signal is given, as τοῖσι Ἕλλησι ὡς ἐσήμηνε when signal was given for the Greeks to attack, [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, ἐσήμαινε παραρτέεσθαι πάντα signal was given to make all ready, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also σ. ἐπὶ πλόον πῦρ gives the signal for sailing, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__II.3 generally, σ. [τῷ ἵππῳ] τι, προχωρεῖν σ. τῷ ἵππῳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 make signals, εἰς τὴν πόλιν [Refs] —passive, ἐσημάνθησαν προσπλέουσαι[Refs]
__III signify, indicate, declare, φόνον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; by ὅτι.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. ὅπου.. [NT+5th c.BC+]: with participle, signify that a thing is, φρυκτοῦ φῶς.. σημαίνει μολόν [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, ὁ σημαινόμενος δοῦλος the abovementioned slave, [Refs 1st c.AD+]it having been reported, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__III.2 interpret, explain, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; tell, speak, [Refs] tell, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III.3 of a writer, signify, indicate, ὅτι.. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of words, sentences, etc., signify, mean, ταὐτὸν σημαίνει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σημαίνοντα significant sounds, opposed to ἄσημα, [Refs] —passive, τὸ σημαινόμενον the sense, meaning of words, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; opposed to τὸ σημαῖνον, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__B middle σημαίνομαι, give oneself a token, i.e. conclude from signs, conjecture, τὰ μὲν σημαίνομαι, τὰ δ᾽ ἐκπέπληγμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄστροις σ. [τὰς πόλεις], proverbial in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of dogs hunting, μυξωτῆρσι σ. τι [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__B.II provide with a sign or mark, seal, σημαίνεσθαι βύβλῳ (i.e. βοῦν), i.e. by sealing a strip of byblus round his horn, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, εὖ σεσημάνθαι to be well sealed up, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ σεσημασμένα, opposed to τὰ ἀσήμαντα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 mark out, choose for oneself, τοὺς εὐρωστοτάτους [Refs 2nd c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Acts.25.27 ☩ John.12.33}