signifiance

English

Alternative forms

• signifiaunce

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English signifiaunce, from Old French senefiance, a semi-learned borrowing from Latin significantia. Doublet of significance.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɪɡˈnɪfi.əns/, /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪəns/

Noun

signifiance (uncountable)

1. (Early Modern, rare) signification, meaning
   • c. 1525, Sallust, “How Iugurth aſſembled a newe army of the rude getulyans agaynſt the romayns”, in Alexander Barclay, transl., Here begynneth the famous cronycle of the warre, which the romayns had agaynſt Iugurth vſurper of the kyngdome of Numidy […] , London: Richarde Pynſon:

     Of this people Iugurth aſſembled a multitude togyder and by lytell & lytell enduced & taught them by cuſtome and exercyſe to folowe the oꝛder of chyualry: to kepe array / to inſue their ſtanderdes / to obey the cōmaundementes of their capitayns / to diſcerne and haue knowlege of the ſignifiaunce of ſoundes of trumpettes […]

   • c. 1577, F. T., The debate betweene Pride and Lowlines […] , London: Rafe Newbery:

     Reade we not of a horne that did blaſpheme, / The name of God through pride and arrogance: / Yet of his woords and ſpeach who did miſdeeme, / Or ſought not rather their ſignifiance.

   • 1603, Plutarch, “The Opinions of Philoſophers”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 802:

     21. The ſignifiance of the ſtarres: how commeth winter and ſummer.

Middle English

Noun

signifiance

1. Alternative form of signifiaunce

Middle French

Alternative forms

• senefiance (rare)

Etymology

Old French senefiance, the signi- sequence being added back to more closely match the original Latin etymon significantia.

Noun

signifiance f (plural signifiances)

1. meaning
   • 1488, Jean Dupré, Lancelot du Lac, page 33:

     l'ermite […] dist a Monsieur Gauvain la signifiance du serpent

     the hermit […] told Gawain the meaning of the serpent

Descendants

• French: signifiance (now literary or technical)