I.a mark, sign, signal; a distinctive mark, a badge of office (class.).
A. Lit.: “quod erat insigne, eum facere, etc.,” Cic. de Or. 3, 33, 133: “Minerva singulare est insigne ejus gymnasii,” id. Att. 1, 4, 3: “bos in Aegypto etiam numinis vice colitur: Apim vocant. Insigne ei in dextro latere candicans macula,” Plin. 8, 46, 71, § 184.—Plur.: “sibi haberent honores ... sibi triumphos, sibi alia praeclarae laudis insignia,” Cic. Pis. 9, 26.—
B. A sign or badge of office or honor, a decoration: bulla erat indicium et insigne fortunae, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 152; id. Div. 1, 17, 36; Liv. 25, 4; Suet. Aug. 35.—Esp. in plur., insignia, attire, uniform, costume, regalia, etc.: “sedebat cum purpura, et sceptro, et insignibus illis regiis,” Cic. Sest. 26, 57: “imperatoris,” Caes. B. C. 3, 96: “sacerdotum,” Liv. 3, 39: “pontificalia,” id. 10, 7: militaria, ornaments, probably on the helmets of the officers, Caes. B. G. 7, 45: “triumphorum,” Suet. Aug. 29: “majestatis,” Just. 10, 1, 3; cf.: “horum (mundi et caeli) insignia, sol, luna, etc.,” Cic. N. D. 1, 36, 100: “vocis,” the costume of a public singer, Juv. 8, 227. —
C. A standard: navem Bruti, quae ex insigni facile agnosci poterat, i. e. the flag of the admiral's ship, Caes. B. C. 2, 6.—
II. Trop., an honor: “insignia virtutis multi sine virtute adsecuti sunt,” Cic. Fam. 3, 13, 1: “laudis,” id. Sull. 9, 26: “orationis lumina et quodam modo insignia,” brilliant passages, gems, id. Or. 39, 135 (v. the context): “verborum et sententiarum insignia,” id. de Or. 2, 9, 36; 3, 25, 96 al.
