dignity
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
dig·ni·ty
(dĭg′nĭ-tē)n. pl. dig·ni·ties
1. The quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect.
2. Inherent nobility and worth: the dignity of honest labor.
3.
a. Poise and self-respect.
b. Stateliness and formality in manner and appearance.
4. The respect and honor associated with an important position.
5. A high office or rank.
6. dignities The ceremonial symbols and observances attached to high office.
7. Archaic A dignitary.
[Middle English dignite, from Old French, from Latin dignitās, from dignus, worthy; see dek- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
dignity
(ˈdɪɡnɪtɪ)n, pl -ties
1. a formal, stately, or grave bearing: he entered with dignity.
2. the state or quality of being worthy of honour: the dignity of manual labour.
3. (Sociology) relative importance; rank: he is next in dignity to the mayor.
4. sense of self-importance (often in the phrases stand (or be) on one's dignity, beneath one's dignity)
5. high rank, esp in government or the church
6. a person of high rank or such persons collectively
[C13: from Old French dignite, from Latin dignitās merit, from dignus worthy]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
dig•ni•ty
(ˈdɪg nɪ ti)n., pl. -ties.
1. bearing, conduct, or manner indicative of self-respect, formality, or gravity.
2. nobility or elevation of character; worthiness.
3. elevated rank, office, station, etc.
4. relative standing; rank.
5. a sign or token of respect: a question unworthy of the dignity of a reply.
6. Archaic. dignitary.
[1175–1225; Middle English dignite < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin dignitās worthiness =dign(us) worthy + -itās -ity]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Dignity
persons of high rank, collectively.Examples: dignity of the army, 1548; of a great kingdom, 1793; of canons—Bk. of St. Albans, 1486.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
dignity
The following words can all be used to describe someone who behaves in a calm, serious way:
dignified | formal | grave | po-faced | pompous |
self-important | solemn | staid | stuffy |
1. 'dignified'
Dignified is a complimentary word.
Doctors were respected everywhere. They always looked clean and dignified.
2. 'formal', 'grave' and 'solemn'
Formal, grave, and solemn are neutral words, which do not show approval or disapproval.
'How is your mother?' Daintry asked with formal politeness.
...as she explains the concept of gross national product to her solemn students.
3. 'staid'
Staid is fairly uncomplimentary.
The others are a pretty staid lot.
4. 'po-faced', 'pompous', 'self-important', and 'stuffy'
Po-faced, pompous, self-important, and stuffy are used to show disapproval. Po-faced and stuffy are not used in formal writing.
He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.
His irrepressible irreverence has frequently landed him in trouble with the stuffy and self-important.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | dignity - the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; "it was beneath his dignity to cheat"; "showed his true dignity when under pressure" pride, pridefulness - a feeling of self-respect and personal worth |
2. | dignity - formality in bearing and appearance; "he behaved with great dignity" | |
3. | dignity - high office or rank or station; "he respected the dignity of the emissaries" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
dignity
noun
1. decorum, breeding, gravity, majesty, grandeur, respectability, nobility, propriety, solemnity, gentility, courtliness, loftiness, stateliness Everyone admired her extraordinary dignity and composure.
2. self-importance, pride, self-esteem, morale, self-respect, self-worth, self-regard, self-possession, amour-propre (French) Admit that you were wrong. You won't lose dignity.
Quotations
"Our dignity is not in what we do, but in what we understand" [George Santayana Winds of Doctrine]
"By dignity, I mean the high place attained only when the heart and mind are lifted, equally at once, by the creative union of perception and grace" [James Thurber Lanterns and Lances]
"Our dignity is not in what we do, but in what we understand" [George Santayana Winds of Doctrine]
"By dignity, I mean the high place attained only when the heart and mind are lifted, equally at once, by the creative union of perception and grace" [James Thurber Lanterns and Lances]
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
dignity
nounA person's high standing among others:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أهَمِيَّهكَرَامَةكَرامهَ، شَرَف، كِبْرِياءمَنْصِب، مَقاموَقار
důstojnosthodnostvážnostdůležitost
værdighed
arvokkuus
dostojanstvo
emelkedettségméltóság
stolt, sómatilfinningvirîingarstaîavirîuleiki, myndugleikivirîuleiki; virîing, sæmd
威厳
존엄성
dignitas
garbėgarbingas vardasorumasrimtumassvarbumas
augsts/cienīgs stāvokliscieņacienīgumsgodssvarīgums
demnitate
dôstojnosť
dostojanstvo
värdighet
ความมีเกียรติ
thái độ đường hoàng
dignity
[ˈdɪgnɪtɪ] N1. (= self-esteem) → dignidad f
that would be beneath my dignity → no me rebajaría a eso
to stand on one's dignity → ponerse en su lugar
that would be beneath my dignity → no me rebajaría a eso
to stand on one's dignity → ponerse en su lugar
2. (= solemnity) [of occasion] → solemnidad f
3. (= respectability) [of work, labour] → dignidad f, honorabilidad f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
dignity
[ˈdɪgnɪti] n → dignité fto lose one's dignity → perdre sa dignité
to keep one's dignity, to preserve one's dignity → garder sa dignité
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
dignity
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
dignity
[ˈdɪgnɪtɪ] n → dignitàit would be beneath his dignity to do it → non si abbasserebbe mai a farlo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
dignity
(ˈdignəti) noun1. stateliness or seriousness of manner. Holding her head high, she retreated with dignity.
2. importance or seriousness. the dignity of the occasion.
3. a privilege etc indicating rank. He had risen to the dignity of an office of his own.
4. one's personal pride. He had wounded her dignity.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
dignity
→ كَرَامَة důstojnost værdighed Würde αξιοπρέπεια dignidad arvokkuus dignité dostojanstvo dignità 威厳 존엄성 waardigheid verdighet godność dignidade достоинство värdighet ความมีเกียรติ haysiyet thái độ đường hoàng 尊严Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
dignity
n dignidad fEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.