dignify

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English

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Etymology

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From Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from dignus (worthy) + ficare (in comp.), facere (to make). See deign and fact.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdɪɡnɪfaɪ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

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dignify (third-person singular simple present dignifies, present participle dignifying, simple past and past participle dignified)

  1. (transitive) To invest with dignity or honour.
    • 1616, Ben Jonson, Inviting A Friend To Supper:
      Your worth will dignify our feast.
  2. (transitive) To give distinction to.
    • 1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 10:
      Or, when more deeply moved, he would exclaim--
      "As noble thoughts the inward being grace,
      So noble whiskers dignify the face."
  3. (transitive) To exalt in rank.
  4. (transitive, chiefly in the negative) To treat as worthy or acceptable; to indulge or condone by acknowledging.
    I will not dignify that comment with a response.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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