SIGN OF THE CROSS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sign of the cross mean? 

• SIGN OF THE CROSS (noun)
  The noun SIGN OF THE CROSS has 1 sense:

1. a gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by Catholics as a profession of faith

  Familiarity information: SIGN OF THE CROSS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SIGN OF THE CROSS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A gesture with the right hand moving to form a cross; used by Catholics as a profession of faith

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("sign of the cross" is a kind of...):

gesture; motion (the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals)

 Context examples 

When we started, the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fingers towards me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

One by one several of the passengers offered me gifts, which they pressed upon me with an earnestness which would take no denial; these were certainly of an odd and varied kind, but each was given in simple good faith, with a kindly word, and a blessing, and that strange mixture of fear-meaning movements which I had seen outside the hotel at Bistritz—the sign of the cross and the guard against the evil eye.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)