SIGNIFY

mean, intend, signify, stand for

(verb) denote or connote; “‘maison’ means ‘house’ in French”; “An example sentence would show what this word means”

signify

(verb) convey or express a meaning; “These words mean nothing to me!”; “What does his strange behavior signify?”

signify

(verb) make known with a word or signal; “He signified his wish to pay the bill for our meal”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

signify (third-person singular simple present signifies, present participle signifying, simple past and past participle signified)

To create a sign out of something.

To give (something) a meaning or an importance.

To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce.

To mean; to betoken.

To make a difference; to matter (in negative or interrogative expressions).

Synonyms

• mean

• betoken

Source: Wiktionary

Sig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified; p. pr. & vb. n. Signifying.] Etym: [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.]

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition