dignify en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈdɪɡnɪfaɪ/ (UK)
Etymology
From Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from dignus (“worthy”) + ficare (in comp.), facere (“to make”). See deign and fact.
Meanings
-
(transitive) To invest with dignity or honour.
Your worth will dignify our feast.
1616, Ben Jonson, Inviting A Friend To Supper:
-
(transitive) To give distinction to.
Or, when more deeply moved, he would exclaim-- "As noble thoughts the inward being grace, So noble whiskers dignify the face."
1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 10:
- (transitive) To exalt in rank.
-
(in the negative, transitive) To treat as worthy or acceptable; to indulge or condone by acknowledging.
I will not dignify that comment with a response.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dignified | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| dignified | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| dignifying | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| dignifies | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Antonyms
demean · give a bad name · debase · embase · downgrade · humiliate · disparage · reduce · discredit · defame · demean · sink · depress · humble · disgrace · degrade · whittle down to size · bring down to size · trim down to size · humiliate · relegate · slur · dishonour · shame · abase · knock down to size · cut down to size · mortify · demote · put someone in their place
Deriveds
dignifiable · undignify · overdignify
Relateds
dignity · dignification · dignified
Synonyms
aggrandize · prefer · pretty up · prettify · elevate · grace · worthy · honor · venerate · mangonize · nobilitate · deck out · detail · idolize · ennoble · garnish · honor · speak well of · extol · ennoble · promote · lionize · aggrandize · applaud · exalt · honor · apparel · exalt · ornament · invest · embellish · dub · adorn · decore · deck · enrich · laud · uplift · glorify · advance · transfigure · panegyrize · eulogize · decorate · dress up · prefer · puff · dignify · array · adore · cry up · elevate · raise · illustrate · adorn · betrim · revere · magnify · praise · appraise · beautify · belaud · exalt · honor · bepraise · bedeck · enthrone · advance · commend · do up · commend · grace
Translations (9)
fr honorer (to honor) · bg въздигам (to exalt in rank) · bg удостоявам (to honor) · nl vereren (to honor) · ja 品格を与える (to invest with dignity or honour) · da værdige (to honor) · ja 褒賞する (to honor) · de würdigen (to honor) · bg повишавам (to exalt in rank)