: to stamp with a mark that indicates origin, purity, or genuineness : to stamp with a hallmark (see hallmarkentry 1)
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The Golden History of Hallmark
Centuries ago, King Edward I of England decreed that gold and silver had to be tested and approved by master craftsmen before being sold. Later, London artisans were required to bring finished metal goods to Goldsmith's Hall to be checked, and if those items met the quality standards of the craft-masters there, they would be marked with a special stamp of approval. (The process is much the same today.) At first, people used hallmark to name that mark of excellence from Goldsmith's Hall, but over the years the word came to refer to any mark guaranteeing purity or genuineness, and eventually to name any sign of outstanding talent, creativity, or excellence.
Noun He had all the hallmarks of a great baseball player. Humor is one of the hallmarks of her style. The murder bore all the hallmarks of a serial killer's work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Finding beauty and healing in destruction and loss has been a hallmark of Hubbell’s artwork for decades.San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The first hallmark would look at the design or effect of the measure. Nana Ama Sarfo, Forbes, 8 Aug. 2022 And yes, the rugs Hubbard creates do contain a hallmark. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2022 The employment numbers underscore the resilience of the economy following two straight quarters of declining GDP, which is considered a hallmark of a recession. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2022 Dairy cows are as much a hallmark of the rural Dutch landscape as windmills and canals. Lucy Papachristou, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 Its service was also congenial, a hallmark of Meyer’s style that’s been copied by restaurateurs across the country. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 2 Aug. 2022 Researchers last month reported another drug that works similarly — by targeting amyloid plaques that are an Alzheimer’s hallmark — failed in a key study. Lauran Neergaard, ajc, 2 Aug. 2022 Bloomberg’s CityLab examined the history of rushed work lunches in 2015, writing that the sad salad consumed at one’s desk was a particular hallmark of 2010s corporate culture. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 18 July 2022
Verb
The Spurs’ practice gym was quiet Monday, save for the dull drone of conversation and the occasional click of a camera shutter that hallmark an NBA media day. Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Sep. 2021 This process is what leads to hallmark rheumatoid arthritis symptoms like painful, swollen joints, joint stiffness, fatigue, fever, and more. Beth Krietsch, SELF, 26 Aug. 2020 In normal circumstances, the teenage experience is hallmarked by big emotions. Jennifer Folsom, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2020 Holidays, inasmuch as they are illustrated by their ornaments and decorations, are also hallmarked by their customary foods, which spangle around festive table centerpieces as the true spectacle of the occasions. Myles Poydras, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2020 Byrne recalled her brother’s sense of humor, hallmarked an uncanny ability to impersonate anyone. Michael Brice-saddler, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2019 Opponents said the bill would have eroded Hong Kong’s hallmark judicial independence and exposed its residents to politicized cases.Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2019 Despite a season hallmarked by miscommunication between the player’s camp and the Spurs, Leonard and Popovich maintained a solid — albeit often long-distance — relationship. Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Apr. 2018 The inside linebacker blitzes that have long hallmarked Pittsburgh’s scheme also remain. Andy Benoit, SI.com, 20 Sep. 2017 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Goldsmiths' Hall, London, England, where gold and silver articles were assayed and stamped