Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/
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ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ
Verb
To create a sign out of something.
To give (something) a meaning or an importance.
To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce, or portend.
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I’ll to the king; and signify to him / That thus I have resign’d my charge to you.
For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
More examples (3)
In my humble Opinion, it would be no unseasonable Condescension, if the Government would Graciously please to signify to the pour loyal Protestant Subjects of Ireland, either that this miserable Want of Silver, is not possible to be remedy’d in any Degree […] or else, that it doth not stand with the good Pleasure of England, to suffer any Silver at all among us.
Tapping at the window, he signified that she should open the casement, and when she had done this he handed in the key to her.
“Do you want to write a cheque, Granny?” The old eyes signified assent.
To mean; to betoken.
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Life’s […] a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing.
More examples (3)
Mrs Varden was a lady of what is commonly called an uncertain temper—a phrase which being interpreted signifies a temper tolerably certain to make everybody more or less uncomfortable.
Leaning over, she gives Uncle Oscar a furious affectionate pat which signifies that he is a good fellow and we all love him. It also signifies that he can shut up.
There are three messages which can be sent by means of the convolvulus. A white one signifies Why are you fleeing me? A pink one signifies I shall bind myself to you. A blue one signifies I shall wait for better days.
To make a difference; to matter (in negative or interrogative expressions).
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More examples (5)
To be but in the company of those we love, satisfies us: it does not signify whether we speak to ’em or not, whether we think on them or on indifferent things. To be near ’em is all.
VVell ſays I, and are you thus eaſy? ay, ſays ſhe, I can’t help myſelf, vvhat ſignifyes being ſad? If I am hang’d there’s an End of me, ſays ſhe, and avvay ſhe turns Dancing, and Sings as ſhe goes, […]
I told her it was not I that broke her window, but it did not signify; so she dragged me to the light, lugging and scratching me all the while, and then said she would inform against me […]
Well, it does not signify complaining, but there are three things for which I am much to be pitied, if any one thought it worth while to waste any compassion upon me.
Alice looked at the jury-box, and saw that, in her haste, she had put the Lizard in head downwards,[…]. She soon got it out again, and put it right; “not that it signifies much,” she said to herself; “I should think it would be quite as much use in the trial one way up as the other.”
“He was Charles. You can read it there. Charles Hale.” / “That don’t signify,” Ida said. “A man always has a different name for strangers. […]”
Verb
denote or connote
- Broader terms
- Examples
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‘maison’ means ‘house’ in French
An example sentence would show what this word means
convey or express a meaning
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What does his strange behavior signify?
make known with a word or signal
- Broader terms
- Examples
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He signified his wish to pay the bill for our meal