Dictionary

dignify

verb dig·ni·fy \ˈdig-nə-ˌfī\

: to cause (something) to have more serious and important quality : to give dignity or importance to (something)

: to treat (something or someone) with respect or seriousness that is not deserved

dig·ni·fieddig·ni·fy·ing

Full Definition of DIGNIFY

transitive verb
1
:  to give distinction to :  ennoble
2
:  to confer dignity upon; also :  to give undue attention or status to <won't dignify that remark with a reply>
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Origin of DIGNIFY

Middle English dignifien, from Middle French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from Latin dignus worthy — more at decent
First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with DIGNIFY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
DIGNIFY Defined for Kids

dignify

verb dig·ni·fy \ˈdig-nə-ˌfī\
dig·ni·fieddig·ni·fy·ing

Definition of DIGNIFY for Kids

1
:  to give dignity or importance to <She felt formal clothes would dignify the occasion.>
2
:  to treat with respect or seriousness that is not deserved <… our cay was so small that the charts wouldn't even dignify it with a name. — Theodore Taylor, The Cay>

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