Signifying

Signifying
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. [1913 Webster]

I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken. [1913 Webster]

He bade her tell him what it signified. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • signifying — ☆ signifying [sig′nə fī΄iŋ ] n. Slang verbal play, esp. as engaged in by urban African Americans, involving boastful taunts, witty insults, indirect threats, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Signifying — Signifyin (slang) is an African American rhetorical device featuring indirect communication or persuasion and the creating of new meanings for old words and signs. Signifying, in this sense, includes repetition and difference, implication and… …   Wikipedia

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  • signifying — noun Date: 1959 a good natured needling or goading especially among urban blacks by means of indirect gibes and clever often preposterous put downs; also dozens …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • signifying — /sig neuh fuy ing/, n. sounding1 (def. 4) [1955 60; SIGNIFY + ING1] * * * …   Universalium

  • signifying — adj. representative, indicative; expressive; meaningful sig·ni·fy || sɪgnɪfaɪ v. represent, indicate; communicate, express, convey; have importance, have significance …   English contemporary dictionary

  • signifying — sig·ni·fy·ing …   English syllables

  • signifying — sig•ni•fy•ing [[t]ˈsɪg nəˌfaɪ ɪŋ[/t]] n. a game or playful confrontation, as playing the dozens, in which witty insults are exchanged • Etymology: 1955–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • signifying — ˈsignə̇ˌfīiŋ noun ( s) Etymology: from gerund of signify : a good natured needling or goading especially among urban blacks by means of indirect gibes and clever often preposterous put downs ; also : dozens herein …   Useful english dictionary

  • signifying chain — noun An interlocking system of signifiers …   Wiktionary

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