dignify

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈdɪgnəˌfaɪ/ UK /ˈdɪɡnɪfaɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #34056

Meanings

1

verb
To treat something unworthy as if it deserved serious attention.

I will not dignify that rude question with an answer.
2

verb
To make something seem more important, honorable, or impressive.

A grand title does not dignify a poorly written book.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to make something seem more... ennoble exalt honor

Word family

Forms dignifieddignifiesdignifying

Derived forms dignifiableundignify

Related forms dignificationdignifieddignity

Simplified etymology

Dignify entered English in late Middle English and derives from Latin dignus, meaning “worthy.” It belongs to the same word family as deign and dignity.

Etymology

From Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from dignus (“worthy”) + ficare (in comp.), facere (“to make”). See deign and fact.

dignifier Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# dignify

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈdɪgnəˌfaɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdɪɡnɪfaɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 34056

## Meanings
1. To treat something unworthy as if it deserved serious attention.
2. To make something seem more important, honorable, or impressive.

## Examples
- I will not dignify that rude question with an answer.
- A grand title does not dignify a poorly written book.

## Derived Forms
- dignifiable
- undignify

## Related Forms
- dignification
- dignified
- dignity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: dignifier

## Etymology
From Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from dignus (“worthy”) + ficare (in comp.), facere (“to make”). See deign and fact.

## AI Etymology
dignify comes from Old French dignifier, from Late Latin dignificare, from dignus (“worthy”) + ficare (in comp.), facere (“to make”). See deign and fact. Current senses include to treat something unworthy as if it deserved serious attention and to make something seem more important, honorable, or impressive. English relatives and later formations include dignifiable, undignify, dignification, dignified.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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