Definition of the word signer

The word "signer" originally emerged in the context of official documents and agreements. In the Middle Ages, when most people were illiterate, important documents were often sealed with wax and imprinted with a signet ring, bearing a distinctive mark or emblem called a sigil or signe. The person who did this was known as a signer or sigillator (from the Latin word sigillātus, meaning "sealed"). As literacy rates increased and the use of written documents became more common, signatures (meaning "signs" or "marks") replaced sigils in many cases. However, in certain contexts, such as legal documents and contracts, the tradition of signifying consent by signing one's name continued. In these situations, the person responsible for affixing the signature became known as a signatory or signer, terms which have evolved over time to describe anyone who adds their name or mark to a document, whether formally or informally, as a sign of approval, endorsement, or agreement.