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sign of the cross
noun phrase
: a gesture of the hand forming a cross especially on forehead, breast, and shoulders to profess Christian faith or invoke divine protection or blessing
Examples of sign of the cross in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As the engine revved, Summers — who was raised Catholic and makes a sign of the cross before performing stunts — heard her father’s voice.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
No more fleas, either, or comical renderings of the Catholic sign of the cross.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sign of the cross.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of sign of the cross was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near sign of the cross
Cite this Entry
“Sign of the cross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sign%20of%20the%20cross. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
sign of the cross
: a movement of the hand forming a cross especially on forehead, shoulders, and breast to profess Christian faith or ask divine protection or blessing
More from Merriam-Webster on sign of the cross
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sign of the cross
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