dignify

dignify
/dig"neuh fuy'/, v.t., dignified, dignifying.
1. to confer honor or dignity upon; honor; ennoble.
2. to give a high-sounding title or name to; confer unmerited distinction upon: to dignify pedantry by calling it scholarship.
[1375-1425; late ME dignifien < OF dignefier < ML dignificare, equiv. to L dign(us) worthy + -ificare -IFY]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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

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