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signify

[ sig-nuh-fahy ]
/ ˈsɪg nəˌfaɪ /
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See synonyms for: signify / signified / signifies / signifying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), sig·ni·fied, sig·ni·fy·ing.
to make known by signs, speech, or action.
to be a sign of; mean; portend.
verb (used without object), sig·ni·fied, sig·ni·fy·ing.
to be of importance or consequence.
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Origin of signify

1200–50; Middle English signifien<Old French signifier<Latin significāre to make a sign, indicate, mention, denote. See sign, -ify

OTHER WORDS FROM signify

sig·ni·fi·a·ble, adjectiveun·sig·ni·fi·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use signify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for signify

signify
/ (ˈsɪɡnɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (when tr, may take a clause as object)
(tr) to indicate, show, or suggest
(tr) to imply or portendthe clouds signified the coming storm
(tr) to stand as a symbol, sign, etc (for)
(intr) informal to be significant or important

Derived forms of signify

signifiable, adjectivesignifier, noun

Word Origin for signify

C13: from Old French signifier, from Latin significāre, from signum a sign, mark + facere to make
Collins 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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