dignify — dig ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dignified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dignifying}.] [OF. dignifier, fr. LL. dignificare; L. dignus worthy + ficare (in comp.), facere to make. See {Deign}, and {Fact}.] To invest with dignity or honor; to make illustrious;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
dignify — [dig′nə fī΄] vt. dignified, dignifying [ME dignifien < OFr dignifier < ML dignificare < L dignus, worthy + ficare < facere, to make, DO1] 1. to give dignity to; make worthy of esteem; honor, exalt, or ennoble 2. to make seem worthy or … English World dictionary
dignify — index bestow, elevate, prefer, promote (advance), raise (advance), recognize (acknowledge) … Law dictionary
dignify — mid 15c., from M.Fr. dignifier, from M.L. dignificare make worthy, from L. dignus (see DIGNITY (Cf. dignity)) + ficare, from facere to make, do (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)). Related: Dignification; dignifying … Etymology dictionary
dignify — [v] make honorable; glorify adorn, advance, aggrandize, distinguish, elevate, ennoble, erect, exalt, grace, honor, magnify, prefer, promote, raise, sublime, uprear; concepts 244,700 Ant. belittle, condemn, degrade, demote, detract, disgrace,… … New thesaurus
dignify — ► VERB (dignifies, dignified) ▪ cause to be or appear impressive or worthy of respect. ORIGIN Latin dignificare, from dignus worthy … English terms dictionary
dignify — UK [ˈdɪɡnɪfaɪ] / US [ˈdɪɡnɪˌfaɪ] verb [transitive] Word forms dignify : present tense I/you/we/they dignify he/she/it dignifies present participle dignifying past tense dignified past participle dignified to make something or someone seem more… … English dictionary
dignify — dig|ni|fy [ˈdıgnıfaı] v past tense and past participle dignified present participle dignifying third person singular dignifies [T] [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: dignifier, from Latin dignus deserving admiration ] to make something or… … Dictionary of contemporary English
dignify — [[t]dɪ̱gnɪfaɪ[/t]] dignifies, dignifying, dignified 1) VERB To dignify something means to make it impressive. [LITERARY] [V n] It is the function of tragic literature to dignify sorrow and disaster... [V n] The gatepost was dignified by the… … English dictionary
dignify — verb (T) to make something or someone seem better or more important than they really are by using a particular word to describe them: dignify sb/sth with: I cannot dignify him with the name physician … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
dignify — transitive verb ( fied; fying) Etymology: Middle English dignifien, from Middle French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from Latin dignus worthy more at decent Date: 15th century 1. to give distinction to ; ennoble … New Collegiate Dictionary
