"signify" meaning in English

See signify in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-signify.wav [Southern-England] Forms: signifies [present, singular, third-person], signifying [participle, present], signified [participle, past], signified [past]
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English signifien, from Old French signifier, from Latin significare. Etymology templates: {{root|en|ine-pro|*dʰeh₁-}}, {{glossary|Inherited}} Inherited, {{inh|en|enm|signifien|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Middle English signifien, {{inh+|en|enm|signifien}} Inherited from Middle English signifien, {{der|en|fro|signifier}} Old French signifier, {{der|en|la|significare}} Latin significare Head templates: {{en-verb}} signify (third-person singular simple present signifies, present participle signifying, simple past and past participle signified)
  1. To create a sign out of something.
    Sense id: en-signify-en-verb-YLcwJAQv Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 19 6 34 5 37
  2. To give (something) a meaning or an importance. Translations (to give something a meaning): σημαίνω (sēmaínō) (Ancient Greek), знача (znača) (Bulgarian), означавам (označavam) (Bulgarian), significar (Catalan), signifi (Esperanto), merkitä (Finnish), tarkoittaa (Finnish), signifier (French), 𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bandwjan) (Gothic), significo (Latin)
    Sense id: en-signify-en-verb-fMzJ7xrg Disambiguation of 'to give something a meaning': 5 65 4 16 10
  3. To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce. Translations (to show one's intentions): duidelijk maken (Dutch), te kennen geven (Dutch), konocigar (Ido)
    Sense id: en-signify-en-verb-mpH-BZ1w Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 19 6 34 5 37 Disambiguation of "to show one's intentions": 3 3 83 0 10
  4. To mean; to betoken. Translations (to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken): significar (Asturian), означавам (označavam) (Bulgarian), significar (Catalan), betyde (Danish), betegne (Danish), betekenen (Dutch), signifier (French), bedeuten (German), 𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bandwjan) (Gothic), jelent (Hungarian), significare (Italian), nozīmēt (Latvian), oznaczać [imperfective] (Polish), znaczyć [imperfective] (Polish), significar (Portuguese), semnifica (Romanian), означа́ть (označátʹ) [imperfective] (Russian), зна́чить (znáčitʹ) [imperfective] (Russian), significar (Spanish), betyda (Swedish), beteckna (Swedish), означа́ти (označáty) [imperfective] (Ukrainian), зна́чити (znáčyty) [imperfective] (Ukrainian)
    Sense id: en-signify-en-verb-eiZkWsgK Disambiguation of 'to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken': 6 3 13 70 7
  5. To make a difference; to matter (in negative or interrogative expressions).
    Sense id: en-signify-en-verb-~vDewbeb Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 19 6 34 5 37
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: mean, betoken Derived forms: consignify, foresignify, nonsignifying, plurisignify, resignify, signifyin', signifyin(g), signifyingly

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for signify meaning in English (11.7kB)

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "consignify"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "foresignify"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "nonsignifying"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "plurisignify"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "resignify"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "signifyin'"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "signifyin(g)"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "signifyingly"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*dʰeh₁-"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "root"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "signifien",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English signifien",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "signifien"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Middle English signifien",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "signifier"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French signifier",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "significare"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin significare",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Middle English signifien, from Old French signifier, from Latin significare.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "signifies",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "signifying",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "signified",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "signified",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "signify (third-person singular simple present signifies, present participle signifying, simple past and past participle signified)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "sig‧ni‧fy"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "19 6 34 5 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To create a sign out of something."
      ],
      "id": "en-signify-en-verb-YLcwJAQv",
      "links": [
        [
          "sign",
          "sign"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To give (something) a meaning or an importance."
      ],
      "id": "en-signify-en-verb-fMzJ7xrg",
      "links": [
        [
          "meaning",
          "meaning"
        ],
        [
          "importance",
          "importance"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "znača",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "знача"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "označavam",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "означавам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "significar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "signifi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "merkitä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "tarkoittaa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "signifier"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "got",
          "lang": "Gothic",
          "roman": "bandwjan",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "sēmaínō",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "σημαίνω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 65 4 16 10",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to give something a meaning",
          "word": "significo"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "19 6 34 5 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1729, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Sheridan, “The Hardships of the Irish being deprived of their Silver, and decoyed into America,”, in The Intelligencer, number 19, pages 207–208",
          "text": "In my humble Opinion, it would be no unseasonable Condescension, if the Government would Graciously please to signify to the pour loyal Protestant Subjects of Ireland, either that this miserable Want of Silver, is not possible to be remedy’d in any Degree […] or else, that it doth not stand with the good Pleasure of England, to suffer any Silver at all among us.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1952, Neville Shute, “Chapter Two”, in The Far Country, London: Heinemann",
          "text": "“Do you want to write a cheque, Granny?” The old eyes signified assent.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce."
      ],
      "id": "en-signify-en-verb-mpH-BZ1w",
      "links": [
        [
          "show",
          "show"
        ],
        [
          "intention",
          "intention"
        ],
        [
          "sign",
          "sign"
        ],
        [
          "indicate",
          "indicate"
        ],
        [
          "announce",
          "announce"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 83 0 10",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to show one's intentions",
          "word": "duidelijk maken"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 83 0 10",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to show one's intentions",
          "word": "te kennen geven"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 83 0 10",
          "code": "io",
          "lang": "Ido",
          "sense": "to show one's intentions",
          "word": "konocigar"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1961, Walker Percy, “Chapter Four”, in The Moviegoer, New York: Avon, published 1980, page 143",
          "text": "Leaning over, she gives Uncle Oscar a furious affectionate pat which signifies that he is a good fellow and we all love him. It also signifies that he can shut up.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1984, Julian Barnes, “Chapter 11”, in Flaubert’s Parrot, New York: Vintage, published 1990",
          "text": "There are three messages which can be sent by means of the convolvulus. A white one signifies Why are you fleeing me? A pink one signifies I shall bind myself to you. A blue one signifies I shall wait for better days.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To mean; to betoken."
      ],
      "id": "en-signify-en-verb-eiZkWsgK",
      "links": [
        [
          "mean",
          "mean"
        ],
        [
          "betoken",
          "betoken"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "ast",
          "lang": "Asturian",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "significar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "označavam",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "означавам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "significar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "betyde"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "betegne"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "betekenen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "signifier"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "bedeuten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "got",
          "lang": "Gothic",
          "roman": "bandwjan",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "jelent"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "significare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "lv",
          "lang": "Latvian",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "nozīmēt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "oznaczać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "znaczyć"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "significar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "semnifica"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "označátʹ",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "означа́ть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "znáčitʹ",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "зна́чить"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "significar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "betyda"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "word": "beteckna"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "označáty",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "означа́ти"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 3 13 70 7",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "znáčyty",
          "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "зна́чити"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "19 6 34 5 37",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1699, uncredited translator, “Of the Heart”, in The Characters, or, The Manners of the Age, London: John Bullord, translation of original by Jean de La Bruyère, page 84",
          "text": "To be but in the company of those we love, satisfies us: it does not signify whether we speak to ’em or not, whether we think on them or on indifferent things. To be near ’em is all.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1793, John Aikin, Evenings at Home, volume 3, London: J. Johnson, Thirteenth Evening, page 67",
          "text": "I told her it was not I that broke her window, but it did not signify; so she dragged me to the light, lugging and scratching me all the while, and then said she would inform against me […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1938, Graham Greene, Brighton Rock, London: Heinemann, published 1962, Part One, Chapter 3, page 37",
          "text": "“He was Charles. You can read it there. Charles Hale.” / “That don’t signify,” Ida said. “A man always has a different name for strangers. […]”",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make a difference; to matter (in negative or interrogative expressions)."
      ],
      "id": "en-signify-en-verb-~vDewbeb",
      "links": [
        [
          "difference",
          "difference"
        ],
        [
          "matter",
          "matter"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-signify.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern England)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "mean"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "betoken"
    }
  ],
  "word": "signify"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 3-syllable words",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁-",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English verbs",
    "Requests for review of Spanish translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "consignify"
    },
    {
      "word": "foresignify"
    },
    {
      "word": "nonsignifying"
    },
    {
      "word": "plurisignify"
    },
    {
      "word": "resignify"
    },
    {
      "word": "signifyin'"
    },
    {
      "word": "signifyin(g)"
    },
    {
      "word": "signifyingly"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*dʰeh₁-"
      },
      "expansion": "",
      "name": "root"
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
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      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "signifien",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English signifien",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "signifien"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Middle English signifien",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "signifier"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French signifier",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "significare"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin significare",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Middle English signifien, from Old French signifier, from Latin significare.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "signifies",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "signifying",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "signified",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "signified",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "signify (third-person singular simple present signifies, present participle signifying, simple past and past participle signified)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "sig‧ni‧fy"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To create a sign out of something."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "sign",
          "sign"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "To give (something) a meaning or an importance."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "meaning",
          "meaning"
        ],
        [
          "importance",
          "importance"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1729, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Sheridan, “The Hardships of the Irish being deprived of their Silver, and decoyed into America,”, in The Intelligencer, number 19, pages 207–208",
          "text": "In my humble Opinion, it would be no unseasonable Condescension, if the Government would Graciously please to signify to the pour loyal Protestant Subjects of Ireland, either that this miserable Want of Silver, is not possible to be remedy’d in any Degree […] or else, that it doth not stand with the good Pleasure of England, to suffer any Silver at all among us.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1952, Neville Shute, “Chapter Two”, in The Far Country, London: Heinemann",
          "text": "“Do you want to write a cheque, Granny?” The old eyes signified assent.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "show",
          "show"
        ],
        [
          "intention",
          "intention"
        ],
        [
          "sign",
          "sign"
        ],
        [
          "indicate",
          "indicate"
        ],
        [
          "announce",
          "announce"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1961, Walker Percy, “Chapter Four”, in The Moviegoer, New York: Avon, published 1980, page 143",
          "text": "Leaning over, she gives Uncle Oscar a furious affectionate pat which signifies that he is a good fellow and we all love him. It also signifies that he can shut up.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1984, Julian Barnes, “Chapter 11”, in Flaubert’s Parrot, New York: Vintage, published 1990",
          "text": "There are three messages which can be sent by means of the convolvulus. A white one signifies Why are you fleeing me? A pink one signifies I shall bind myself to you. A blue one signifies I shall wait for better days.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To mean; to betoken."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mean",
          "mean"
        ],
        [
          "betoken",
          "betoken"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1699, uncredited translator, “Of the Heart”, in The Characters, or, The Manners of the Age, London: John Bullord, translation of original by Jean de La Bruyère, page 84",
          "text": "To be but in the company of those we love, satisfies us: it does not signify whether we speak to ’em or not, whether we think on them or on indifferent things. To be near ’em is all.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1793, John Aikin, Evenings at Home, volume 3, London: J. Johnson, Thirteenth Evening, page 67",
          "text": "I told her it was not I that broke her window, but it did not signify; so she dragged me to the light, lugging and scratching me all the while, and then said she would inform against me […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1938, Graham Greene, Brighton Rock, London: Heinemann, published 1962, Part One, Chapter 3, page 37",
          "text": "“He was Charles. You can read it there. Charles Hale.” / “That don’t signify,” Ida said. “A man always has a different name for strangers. […]”",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make a difference; to matter (in negative or interrogative expressions)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "difference",
          "difference"
        ],
        [
          "matter",
          "matter"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-signify.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/1/1a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-signify.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern England)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "mean"
    },
    {
      "word": "betoken"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "znača",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "знача"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "označavam",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "означавам"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "significar"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "signifi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "merkitä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "tarkoittaa"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "signifier"
    },
    {
      "code": "got",
      "lang": "Gothic",
      "roman": "bandwjan",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "sēmaínō",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "σημαίνω"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to give something a meaning",
      "word": "significo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ast",
      "lang": "Asturian",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "significar"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "označavam",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "означавам"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "significar"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "betyde"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "betegne"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "betekenen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "signifier"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "bedeuten"
    },
    {
      "code": "got",
      "lang": "Gothic",
      "roman": "bandwjan",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "jelent"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "significare"
    },
    {
      "code": "lv",
      "lang": "Latvian",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "nozīmēt"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "oznaczać"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "znaczyć"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "significar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "semnifica"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "označátʹ",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "означа́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "znáčitʹ",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "зна́чить"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "significar"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "betyda"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "word": "beteckna"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "označáty",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "означа́ти"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "znáčyty",
      "sense": "to mean, to betoken — see also mean, denote, betoken",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "зна́чити"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to show one's intentions",
      "word": "duidelijk maken"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to show one's intentions",
      "word": "te kennen geven"
    },
    {
      "code": "io",
      "lang": "Ido",
      "sense": "to show one's intentions",
      "word": "konocigar"
    }
  ],
  "word": "signify"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-30 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (210104c and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.