n.a die or stamp with a design used to make an impression in wax or on papera piece of wax, lead, or other material bearing a design from a die or stamp that serves as a sign of authenticityDuranti 1998, 138–139The most important extrinsic element of medieval documents, and the least common and relevant in contemporary documents, is the seal. Examining seals, diplomatists focus their attention on the material they are made of, their shape, size, typology (as it related to the figure in the impression: heraldic type, equestrian, monumental, hagiographic, majestic, etc.), legend or inscription (which runs clockwise around the central figure along the edge of the seal, starting from the top), and the method of affixing them (seals may be hanging or adherent). The analysis of these components is directed to ascertaining the degree of authority and solemnity of a document, its provenance and function, and its authenticity.a design impressed into paper from a die or stamp that serves as a sign of authenticitya substance that must be broken before opening a container, used to detect unauthorized accessv.to restrict access to, especially of court recordsto authenticate or execute a document by marking with a design (seal3)
Notes
The design in a seal2, 3 may be either raised or impressed.
