seal of the United States

The great seal of the Federal Government of which the secretary of state is the custodian. The signature of the President is the warrant for affixing the great seal to an instrument executed by the President and is only to be affixed to an instrument which is complete. It attests by an act supposed to be of public notoriety, the verity of the presidential signature. Marbury v Madison (US) 1 Cranch 137, 158, 2 L Ed 60, 67. seal of the United States Supreme Court.. The arms of the United States on a piece of steel the size of a dollar, with the words in the margin "The Seal of the Supreme Court of the United States." Rule 1, adopted at the February term, 1790. 1 L Ed 432.