SYNONYMS | EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN adjective characterized or marked by dignity of aspect or manner; stately; decorous: dignified conduct.
Origin of dignified First recorded in
1660–70; dignify +
-ed2 Related forms dig·ni·fied·ly [dig -nuh -fahyd-lee, -fahy-id-] /ˈdɪg nəˌfaɪd li, -ˌfaɪ ɪd-/ adverb dig·ni·fied·ness , noun qua·si-dig·ni·fied , adjective un·dig·ni·fied , adjective un·dig·ni·fied·ly , adverb verb (used with object), dig·ni·fied, dig·ni·fy·ing. to confer honor or dignity upon; honor; ennoble. to give a high-sounding title or name to; confer unmerited distinction upon: to dignify pedantry by calling it scholarship.
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Origin of dignify 1375–1425; late Middle English dignifien <
Old French dignefier <
Medieval Latin dignificāre, equivalent to
Latin dign(us ) worthy +
-ificāre -ify Related forms o·ver·dig·ni·fy , verb (used with object), o·ver·dig·ni·fied, o·ver·dig·ni·fy·ing. qua·si-dig·ni·fy·ing , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for dignified noble ,
stately ,
solemn ,
magnificent ,
somber ,
courtly ,
grand ,
distinguished ,
formal ,
respected ,
refined ,
reserved ,
grave ,
aristocratic ,
august ,
decorous ,
eminent ,
great ,
highbrow ,
imperial Examples from the Web for dignified Contemporary Examples of dignified He wore white gloves, a dignified long black coat, and matching pants and vest, and he carried a dark walking stick.
There is certainly a lucrative yet dignified sweet spot between small time micro-brewer and soulless mass-producer.
"Cremation is not necessary to have safe and dignified burial," Tarik Jasarevic tells me.
Even at its bushiest, in the Oscar-winning seventies-set Argo, the Affleck beard remained hot and dignified .
If they were unable to perform any available job, they served as dignified attendants.
Historical Examples of dignified But to the uneducated eye of Andrew Lanning it was a great and dignified building.
She can be the most dignified young woman on occasion that I ever beheld.
Children never played any more under their dignified shadows.
He's so dignified I wish his turban would blow off or something.
She is mentioned as the opposite to the mild, dignified Hygd, the queen of the Getas.
British Dictionary definitions for dignified adjective characterized by dignity of manner or appearance; stately
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Derived Forms dignifiedly , adverb dignifiedness , noun verb -fies , -fying or -fied (tr) to invest with honour or dignity; ennoble
to add distinction to the meeting was dignified by the minister
to add a semblance of dignity to, esp by the use of a pretentious name or title she dignifies every plant with its Latin name
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Word Origin for dignify C15: from Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificāre, from Latin dignus worthy + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for dignified adj. past participle adjective from dignify ; 1660s in sense "ranking as a dignitary;" 1812 in sense "having a dignified manner."
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v. mid-15c., from Middle French dignifier , from Medieval Latin dignificare "make worthy," from Latin dignus (see dignity ) + -ficare , from facere "to make, do" (see factitious ). Related: Dignification ; dignified ; dignifying .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
