חָתַם (b. h.; cmp. b. h. חָתַל) 1) , to tie up, close, lock. Tanḥ. B’resh. 1 ח׳את הים וכ׳ he locked the Ocean up, that it might not go forth &c. —2) to seal. Y. Ab. Zar. III, 42ᶜ bot. טבעת שׂחוֹתֵם בה the ring with which he seals. Ib. אסור לַחְתּוֹם בה you dare not use it for a seal; Tosef. ib. V (VI), 2; a. fr.—2) to sign, subscribe (as witness, judge &c.) Gitt. VI, 7 אחד … חוֹתְמִין one writes the document and two sign it as witnesses. Ib. 66ᵇ ח׳ סופר if the scribe signed as one of the witnesses. Ib. 67ᵃ ואתם חֲתוֹמוּ and sign you. Shebi. X, 4 הדיינים חותמין וכ׳ the judges sign under it; a. fr.—Part. pass. חָתוּם, f. חֲתוּמָה; pl. חֲתוּמִים, חֲתוּמִין; חֲתוּמוֹת. Yeb. 25ᵇ, a. e. עדים הח׳ וכ׳ if witnesses are signed &c.; a. fr. —3) to close a benediction (v. חֲתִימָה). Pes. X, 6 וחותם בגאולה and he closes with redemption (Blessed be the Lord who redeemed Israel). Ib. לא היה חותם he did not close with a benediction. Ber. I, 4 מקום שאמרו לַחְתּוֹם where the Rabbis ordained to close a benediction with Barukh &c.; a. fr.—Part. pass. as ab. Gitt. 60ᵃ תורה ח׳ ניתנה the Law was given as one complete book, opp. מגילה מגילה in single sheets. [Cant. R. to I, 11, v. next w.]
    Pi. - חִיתֵּם to provide with signatures. Y. Gitt. I, beg. 43ᵃ, a. e. מְחַתְּמוֹ בעדים וכ׳ he may have provided it with the signatures of unfit witnesses. Ib. חִתְּמוֹ וכ׳.—Part. pass. מְחוּתָּם. Y. Keth. II, 26ᶜ; Y. Shebu. IV, 35ᶜ מח׳ בארבע וכ׳ provided with four signatures.
    Nif. - נֶחְתַּם,
    Hithpa. - הִתְחַתֵּם, , Nithpa. נִתְחַתֵּם 1) to be signed, sealed. Gitt. I, 1 בפני נח׳ (Y. ed. נתח׳) in my presence has it been signed; a. fr. —2) to be finally sentenced (by attaching the seal or signature). R. Hash. 16ᵇ נכתבין ונֶחְתָּמִין וכ׳ their verdict is written and sealed at once; Y. ib. I, 57ᵃ מִתְחַתְּמִין. Gen. R. s. 31, beg. נתח׳ גזר דינם their decree was sealed; a. e.