Sĭg'ni-fy1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. SIGNIFIED; p. pr. & vb. n. SIGNIFYING.] [Fr. signifier, Pr. signifier, significare, Sp. & Pg. significar, It. & Lat. significare, from signum, a sign, and facere, to make.]
Sense 1. To make known by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like.
I'll signify so much unto him straight. Shak.
The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied. Swift.
Sense 2. To convey the notion of; to mean; to import; to declare; to indicate.
A tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Shak.
Sense 3. To make known; to declare; as, he signified his desire to be present.
Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no importance.
Synonyms—To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken; denote; imply; mean.