Meanings
alternative signifiaunce
- EarlyModernrareuncountablesignification, meaning
21. The ſignifiance of the ſtarres: how commeth winter and ſummer.
1603, Plutarch, “The Opinions of Philoſophers”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 8022 more examples
Of this people Iugurth aſſembled a multitude togyder and by lytell & lytell enduced & taught them by cuſtome and exercyſe to folowe the oꝛder of chyualry: to kepe array / to inſue their ſtanderdes / to obey the cōmaundementes of their capitayns / to diſcerne and haue knowlege of the ſignifiaunce of ſoundes of trumpettes […]
c. 1525, Sallust, “How Iugurth aſſembled a newe army of the rude getulyans agaynſt the romayns”, in Alexander Barclay, transl., Here begynneth the famous cronycle of the warre, which the romayns had agaynſt Iugurth vſurper of the kyngdome of Numidy […] , London: Richarde PynſonReade we not of a horne that did blaſpheme, / The name of God through pride and arrogance: / Yet of his woords and ſpeach who did miſdeeme, / Or ſought not rather their ſignifiance.
c. 1577, F. T., The debate betweene Pride and Lowlines […] , London: Rafe Newbery
Origin
- Latinsignificantia
- Old Frenchsenefiance
- Middle Englishsignifiaunce
- Englishsignifiance
Inherited from Middle English signifiaunce, from Old French senefiance, a semi-learned borrowing from Latin significantia. Doublet of significance.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
signifiance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/signifiance
“signifiance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/signifiance. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “signifiance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/signifiance.
Source: signifiance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.