See Also: signify(dictionary)
signify(dictionary)

signify (iou)



signify verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French signifier from Latin significare, from signum SIGN noun: see -FY.]
verb trans. Be a sign or symbol of; mean; (of a thing) represent; (of a word etc.) denote. ME.
B. Bainbridge Madness by no means signifies an utter want of design. E. Segal The..dean lowered his head, perhaps to signify that he was deep in thought. A. S. Byatt The candles are lit to signify the new world, the new year, the new life.
b. verb trans. & (rare) intrans. Foreshow (a future event, condition, etc.). Now rare. LME.
verb trans. Make known, indicate, announce, declare, (an idea, fact, etc.). Freq. foll. by to. ME.
Ld Macaulay Refused to comply with the..wish of his people signified to him by his Parliament. L. Namier An anonymous letter..signifying the day the parliament would meet.
b. Notify or inform (a person). E16-L17.
verb trans. Compare or liken to something. rare. LME-L15.
verb intrans. Be of importance or consequence; have significance or meaning; avail, matter. Freq. foll. by adverb. E17.
H. James I don't care who you may be..it signifies very little today. A. P. Herbert Don't worry, Fred. It don't signify.
verb intrans. Boast or brag; make insulting remarks etc., esp. in competitive exaggeration. US slang. M20.
signi'fiable adjective (rare) able to be signified M19.