dignify
/'dignifai/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To confer dignity or honor upon; to give distinction to: To make something or someone seem worthy, respectable, or elevated in status.
- To lend an appearance of importance or seriousness to; to make respectable: Often used to describe treating something as if it were more significant or worthy of attention than it might actually be.
Usage
- Transitive Verb: It requires a direct object. The structure is typically "to dignify something/someone (with something)."
- Core Meaning: The action involves elevating the perceived status, honor, or seriousness of the object.
- Common Contexts: Used in formal, official, or critical discourse. It can be used sincerely (to honor) or ironically/sarcastically (to suggest something is unworthy of serious attention).
Examples
- Conferring Honor:
- The university will dignify his lifetime of research with an honorary doctorate.
- They dignified the old tradition with a formal ceremony.
- Giving an Appearance of Seriousness (often critical/ironic):
- I refuse to dignify that ridiculous accusation with a response.
- The tabloid's story doesn't even deserve to be dignified with a comment.
Advanced Usage
- "to dignify something with the name/title of...": To consider something worthy of being called by a specific, often prestigious, name. This is often used negatively to question that worthiness.
- That chaotic event can hardly be dignified with the name of a "conference."
- Passive Voice: Frequently used to describe the state of being honored.
- The position was dignified by its long history and esteemed occupants.
Variants and Related Words
- Dignified (adj): Having or showing a composed, serious, and respectful manner; worthy of respect.
- She maintained a dignified silence throughout the ordeal.
- Dignitary (n): A person considered to be important because of high rank or office.
- Several foreign dignitaries attended the state dinner.
- Dignity (n): The state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect; a composed or serious manner.
- He faced his illness with great dignity.
Synonyms
- Honor: To regard with great respect.
- Elevate: To raise in rank or status.
- Glorify: To praise and honor, often to an exaggerated degree.
- Ennoble: To lend greater dignity or nobility of character to.
Antonyms
- Debase: To reduce in quality, value, or character; to degrade.
- Demean: To cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for someone or something.
- Disgrace: To bring shame or discredit upon.
Related Phrases
- To dignify a response: To consider something worthy of an answer. Commonly used in the negative ("not dignify with a response") to show contempt or dismissal.
- The allegations were so absurd that he chose not to dignify them with a response.
Verb
- raise the status of
- I shall not dignify this insensitive remark with an answer
- confer dignity or honor upon
- He was dignified with a title