dignify

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɪɡnɪfaɪ/

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dignify (third-person singular simple present dignifies, present participle dignifying, simple past and past participle dignified)

1. (transitive) To invest with dignity or honour.
   • 1616, Ben Jonson, Inviting A Friend To Supper:

     Your worth will dignify our feast.

2. (transitive) To give distinction to.
   • 1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 10:

     Or, when more deeply moved, he would exclaim--
     "As noble thoughts the inward being grace,
     So noble whiskers dignify the face."

3. (transitive) To exalt in rank.
4. (transitive, chiefly in the negative) To treat as worthy or acceptable; to indulge or condone by acknowledging.

   I will not dignify that comment with a response.

• exalt
• elevate
• prefer
• advance
• honor
• illustrate
• adorn
• ennoble

• demean
• humiliate
• mortify
• shame

• dignity
• dignification
• dignified