 1 definition found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Signify \Sig"ni*fy\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Signified}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Signifying}.] [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a
sign + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Sign}, noun, 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.
I 'll to the king; and signify to him
That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. --Shak.
The government should signify to the Protestants of
Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.
--Swift.
2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.
He bade her tell him what it signified. --Chaucer.
A tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. --Shak.
Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies
nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no
importance.
Syn: To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken;
denote; imply; mean.
|
