WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Sig"ni*fy
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.]
Definition : 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.

Note: 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.

t. [imp. & p. p. Signified; p. pr. & vb. n. Signifying.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913