signifying

Signify \Sig"ni*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Signified}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Signifying}.] [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a
   sign + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See {Sign}, n., and
   {-fy}.]
   1. To show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional
      token, as words, gestures, signals, or the like; to
      announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a
      signified his desire to be present.
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            I 'll to the king; and signify to him
            That thus I have resign'd my charge to you. --Shak.
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            The government should signify to the Protestants of
            Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.
                                                  --Swift.
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   2. To mean; to import; to denote; to betoken.
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            He bade her tell him what it signified. --Chaucer.
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            A tale
            Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
            Signifying nothing.                   --Shak.
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   Note: Signify is often used impersonally; as, it signifies
         nothing, it does not signify, that is, it is of no
         importance.
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   Syn: To express; manifest; declare; utter; intimate; betoken;
        denote; imply; mean.
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