Signifying

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
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              I 'll to the king; and signify to him
              That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. --Shak.
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              The government should signify to the Protestants of
              Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.
                                                    --Swift.
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     2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.
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              He bade her tell him what it signified. --Chaucer.
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              A tale
              Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
              Signifying nothing.                   --Shak.
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     Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies
           nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no
           importance.
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     Syn: To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken;
          denote; imply; mean.
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