[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/signify/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / signify

# signify

verb (signify, signifies, signified, signifying)

«signify» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To be a sign of something; to mean something (dark clouds signify rain). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#m1)
2. (formal) To show or make known a feeling or wish, often by a sign or action (she nodded to signify yes). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#m2)
3. (formal) To be important (it does not signify). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#m3)

### In the lessons

A formal exam word: «What does the symbol × signify?» means «what does it mean?». In maths, symbols signify operations (+ signifies addition). In science, signs signify changes. Phrases: «signify that», «signify agreement».

### Examples

- The plus sign signifies addition. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x1)
- A red light signifies stop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x2)
- Dark clouds often signify rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x3)
- She raised her hand to signify that she knew the answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x4)
- What does this symbol on the map signify? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x5)
- The ≥ sign signifies «greater than or equal to». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x6)
- \[79\] The Russian word krof also signifies blood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/#x7)

### Note

Formal; everyday: «mean», «show». Noun «significance», adjective «significant» (important). Past «signified» (y changes to i). In maths: always check what each symbol signifies before calculating.

## In Jewish tradition

In these texts it means "to mean," used by commentators explaining Hebrew words and letters.

**Interpretation.** Sefer Yetzirah's readers say the letters signify things like opposites in life, showing that letters carry meaning beyond sound.

### Examples

- With a בּ following after it, signifies: to make use of any thing. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/signify/#x1)
- Seven double letters serve to signify the antithesis to which human life is exposed. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/signify/#x2)
- II, that the author signifies by the word "Tohu," nothing, and not something, as Judah Halevi erroneously thought. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/signify/#x3)

### Note

Formal; everyday: «mean», «show». Noun «significance», adjective «significant» (important). Past «signified» (y changes to i). In maths: always check what each symbol signifies before calculating.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «signify» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/signify/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«signify» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/signify.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «signify» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/signify/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«signify» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/signify.html) on Mova free.