signifiance

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/sɪɡˈnɪfi.əns//ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪəns/

noun

signification, meaning

Scrabble 17

Meanings

nounsignifiance (uncountable)

alternative signifiaunce

  1. 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 802
    2 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 Pynſon

    Reade 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

  1. Latinsignificantia
  2. Old Frenchsenefiance
  3. Middle Englishsignifiaunce
  4. Englishsignifiance

Inherited from Middle English signifiaunce, from Old French senefiance, a semi-learned borrowing from Latin significantia. Doublet of significance.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

signifiance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/signifiance

MLA

“signifiance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/signifiance. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “signifiance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/signifiance.

Source: signifiance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.