great seal

noun

1. the principal seal of a government or state.
2. (initial capital letters) British.
   1. the Lord Chancellor, keeper of the principal seal of Great Britain.
   2. his office.

great seal

noun

1. often capitals the principal seal of a nation, sovereign, etc, used to authenticate signatures and documents of the highest importance

Word History and Origins

Origin of great seal¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

John Adams wanted the splitting of the Red Sea to be on the Great Seal of the newly minted United States of America.

From The Daily Beast

Richard Cromwell's parliament dissolved by commission under the great seal, at the instance of Desborough.

From Project Gutenberg

Shower undertook to prove that the letters patent to which Somers had put the Great Seal were illegal.

From Project Gutenberg

After some parley Essex handed him a protection under the Great Seal for himself and all his followers for twenty days.

From Project Gutenberg

Grafton offered the great seal to Charles Yorke, the second son of the famous chancellor, Hardwicke, who died in 1764.

From Project Gutenberg

On the 17th, George told him that if he did not accept the great seal then, it should never be offered to him again.

From Project Gutenberg