Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 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.