verb (used with object), dig·ni·fied, dig·ni·fy·ing.
- to confer honor or dignity upon; honor; ennoble.
- to give a high-sounding title or name to; confer unmerited distinction upon: to dignify pedantry by calling it scholarship.
verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
- to invest with honour or dignity; ennoble
- to add distinction tothe meeting was dignified by the minister
- to add a semblance of dignity to, esp by the use of a pretentious name or titleshe dignifies every plant with its Latin name
mid-15c., from Middle French dignifier, from Medieval Latin dignificare “make worthy,” from Latin dignus (see dignity) + -ficare, from facere “to make, do” (see factitious). Related: Dignification; dignified; dignifying.