dignity

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The quality of being worthy of respect, and of respecting yourself.

   She faced her illness with great courage and dignity.

2. 2
   noun

   Calm, serious, and controlled behavior that earns respect.

   The judge conducted the trial with quiet dignity.

3. 3
   noun

   A high rank, position, or title.

   He was raised to the dignity of cardinal.

Inherited from Middle English dignyte, from Old French dignité, from Latin dignitās (“worthiness, merit, dignity, grandeur, authority, rank, office”), from dignus (“worthy, appropriate”), from Proto-Italic *degnos, from Proto-Indo-European *dḱ-nos, from *deḱ- (“to take”). See also decus (“honor, esteem”) and decet (“it is fitting”). Cognate to deign. Doublet of dainty. In this sense, displaced native Old English weorþsċipe, which became Modern English worship.

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