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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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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