GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  1.       
    Signify (?), 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”.

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    I 'll to the king; and signify to him

    That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. Shak.

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    The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. Swift.

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    2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.

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    He bade her tell him what it signified. Chaucer.

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    A tale

    Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

    Signifying nothing. Shak.

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    ☞ Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance.

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    Syn. -- To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean.

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