master signifier
master signifier · master signifiers
A signifier, i.e. a linguistic sign, with no determinate content beyond itself,…A signifier, i.e. a linguistic sign, with no determinate content beyond itself, serving as a nodal point dominating and grounding the content of a chain of other signifiers.
Meaning
1 sensesA signifier, i.e. a linguistic sign, with no determinate content beyond itself, serving as a nodal point dominating and grounding the content of a chain of other signifiers.
Origin
Calque of French signifiant-maître as used by French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan.Calque of French signifiant-maître as used by French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan.
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