Signifying

Signifying
Signify Sig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Signified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Signifying}.] [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Sign}, n., and {-fy}.] 1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a signified his desire to be present. [1913 Webster]

I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken. [1913 Webster]

He bade her tell him what it signified. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • signifying — /sig neuh fuy ing/, n. sounding1 (def. 4) [1955 60; SIGNIFY + ING1] * * * …   Universalium

  • signifying — adj. representative, indicative; expressive; meaningful sig·ni·fy || sɪgnɪfaɪ v. represent, indicate; communicate, express, convey; have importance, have significance …   English contemporary dictionary

  • signifying — sig·ni·fy·ing …   English syllables

  • signifying — sig•ni•fy•ing [[t]ˈsɪg nəˌfaɪ ɪŋ[/t]] n. a game or playful confrontation, as playing the dozens, in which witty insults are exchanged • Etymology: 1955–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • signifying — ˈsignə̇ˌfīiŋ noun ( s) Etymology: from gerund of signify : a good natured needling or goading especially among urban blacks by means of indirect gibes and clever often preposterous put downs ; also : dozens herein …   Useful english dictionary

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