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.
I 'll to the king; and signify to him
That thus I have resign'd my charge to you.
Shak.
The government should signify to the Protestants
of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.
Swift.
2. To mean; to import; to denote; to
betoken.
He bade her tell him what it
signified.
Chaucer.
A tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Shak.
&fist; Signify is often used impersonally; as, it
signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is
of no importance.
Syn. -- To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate;
betoken; denote; imply; mean.
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.
I 'll to the king; and signify to him
That thus I have resign'd my charge to you.
Shak.
The government should signify to the Protestants
of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.
Swift.
2. To mean; to import; to denote; to
betoken.
He bade her tell him what it
signified.
Chaucer.
A tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Shak.
&fist; Signify is often used impersonally; as, it
signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is
of no importance.
Syn. -- To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate;
betoken; denote; imply; mean.
