dignify
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.
Origin of dignify
1Other words from dignify
- 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
Words Nearby dignify
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dignify in a sentence
It began to feel imperative that I tell their stories as bluntly and factually as possible, as a way to honor their lives and dignify their deaths and disappearances.
In her novel ‘When the Stars Go Dark,’ Paula McLain draws on abuse cases, including her own | Maureen Corrigan | April 23, 2021 | Washington PostSo, sure, you can wear the bracelet and mislead his family into spending their money on things you don’t want, or you can refuse to dignify pouting and return it.
Carolyn Hax: She’s not charmed by boyfriend’s unwanted gift | Carolyn Hax | April 1, 2021 | Washington PostOn the other hand, many people believe it is important to dignify official government business with a prayer.
Supreme Court Prayer Decision in Greece v. Galloway Should Be Easy | Eric Segall | November 4, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe tactic—you can't dignify it by calling it strategy—may finally backfire.
The Obama Scandals Are Desperate Measures by the GOP | Robert Shrum | May 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIt is thus that they dignify human nature and glorify human effort, and bring to those who struggle hope and trust.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8 | Various
She seemed to dignify with her presence whatever happened to be going on, and made it worth while.
Unveiling a Parallel | Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella MarchantSuch a mode of proceeding costs us little, but tends much to dignify and exalt us.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II | Francis Augustus CoxIncidentally teachers themselves, by thinking more nobly of their tasks, can do much to dignify their calling.
Spirit and Music | H. Ernest HuntThe bearing of the new Abbot served of itself to dignify a ceremonial which was deprived of all other attributes of grandeur.
The Abbot | Sir Walter Scott
British Dictionary definitions for dignify
/ (ˈdɪɡnɪˌfaɪ) /
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
Origin of dignify
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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