To"ken , n. (Weaving) In a Jacquard loom, a colored signal to show the weaver which shuttle to use.
To"ken , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tokened (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Tokening.]
[AS. tācnian, fr. tācen token. See Token, n.] To betoken. [Obs.] Shak.
To"ken (tō"k'n), n. [OE. token, taken, AS. tācen; akin to OFries. tēken, OS. tēkan, D. teeken, G. zeichen, OHG. Zeihhan, Icel. tākan, teiken, Sw.
tecken, Dan. tegn, Goth. taikns sign, token, gateihan to tell, show, AS. teón to accuse, G.
zeihen, OHG. zīhan, G. zeigen to show, OHG. zeigōn, Icel. tjā, L.
dicere to say, Gr.
deikny`nai to show,
Skr. diç. Cf. Diction, Teach.]
1. Something intended or supposed to represent or indicate another thing or an event; a sign; a symbol; as, the rainbow is a token of God's covenant established with Noah.
2. A memorial of
friendship; something by which the friendship of another person is to be kept in mind;
a memento; a
souvenir.
This is some
token from a never friend.
Shak.
3. Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign
of authenticity, of power, good faith, etc.
Say, by this token, I desire his
company.
Shak.
4. A piece of metal intended for currency, and issued by a private party, usually bearing the name of the issuer, and redeemable in lawful money. Also, a coin
issued by government, esp.
when its use as lawful
money is limited and its intrinsic value is much
below its nominal value.
&fist; It is now made unlawful for private persons to issue tokens.
5. (Med.)
A livid spot upon the
body, indicating, or supposed to indicate, the approach of death. [Obs.]
Like the fearful tokens of the plague,
Are mere forerunners of their ends.
Beau. & Fl. 6. (Print.) Ten and a half
quires, or, commonly, 250
sheets, of paper printed on both sides; also, in some
cases, the same number of sheets printed on one side, or half the number printed on both sides.
7. (Ch. of Scot.) A piece of metal given beforehand to each person in the congregation who is permitted to partake of the Lord's Supper.
8. (Mining) A bit of leather having a peculiar mark designating a particular miner. Each hewer sends one of these
with each corf or tub he has hewn.
Token money, money which is lawfully current for more than its
real value. See Token, n., 4. - - Token
sheet (Print.),
the last sheet of each
token. W. Savage.
Hear it pronounced