DIGNITY

dignity, self-respect, self-regard, self-worth

(noun) the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; “it was beneath his dignity to cheat”; “showed his true dignity when under pressure”

dignity, lordliness, gravitas

(noun) formality in bearing and appearance; “he behaved with great dignity”

dignity

(noun) high office or rank or station; “he respected the dignity of the emissaries”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

dignity (countable and uncountable, plural dignities)

The state of being dignified or worthy of esteem: elevation of mind or character.

Decorum, formality, stateliness.

High office, rank, or station.

One holding high rank; a dignitary.

(obsolete) Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim.

Synonyms

• worth

• worthiness

Coordinate terms

• augustness, humanness, nobility, majesty, grandeur, glory, superiority, wonderfulness

Anagrams

• tidying

Source: Wiktionary


Dig"ni*ty, n.; pl. Dignities. Etym: [OE. dignete, dignite, OF. digneté, dignité, F. dignité, fr. L. dignitas, from dignus worthy. See Dainty, Deign.]

1. The state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or character; true worth; excellence.

2. Elevation; grandeur. The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings. Shak.

3. Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation. Macaulay. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this Esth. vi. 3. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, . . . the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. Gen. xlix. 3.

4. Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of A letter written with singular energy and dignity of thought Macaulay.

5. One holding high rank; a dignitary. These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of dignities. Jude. 8.

6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. [Obs.] Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by themselves. Sir T. Browne.

Syn.

– See Decorum. To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character. They did not stand upon their dignity, nor give their minds to being or to seeming as elegant and as fine as anybody else. R. G. White.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

8 February 2025

STATE

(noun) the group of people comprising the government of a sovereign state; “the state has lowered its income tax”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

coffee icon