broad seal

American  

noun

1. the official seal of a country or state.

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broad seal British  

noun

1. the official seal of a nation and its government

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Etymology

Origin of broad seal

First recorded in 1530–40

Example Sentences

In reviewing the Old and New Testament, as being considered a Divine Revelation, this criterion will be always referred to; for, if any writings purporting to be of Divine authority, represent their author to be any thing otherwise than a God impartial and just, such writings will, by the author of this work, be considered entirely unworthy of the broad seal of Heaven, and as fully deserving of being held up to human beings as false, and a flagrant imposition on the credulity of mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

With the poor I make my treaty; and the heart of man Sets the broad seal of its allegiance there, And ratifies the compact.

From Project Gutenberg

God would be likely to reveal his will to the rational creatures who were required to obey it; he would authenticate in some way the right of prophets and apostles to speak in his name; supernatural power was the broad seal which he affixed to their commission.

From Project Gutenberg

“The depositions and answers were sworn before Edward Byam, Esq., one of the council, and Nathaniel Crump, Esq., speaker of the house of assembly, and were ordered to be sealed with the broad seal of the island, and forwarded immediately to England.”

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps you will wonder how such an ordinary fellow as this Mr. Wood could have so much interest as to get his Majesty’s broad seal for so great a sum of bad money to be sent to this poor country; and that all the nobility and gentry here could not obtain the same favour, and let us make our own halfpence, as we used to do.

From Project Gutenberg