With this brain I must work, in order to give significancy and
value to the few facts which I possess.
De Quincey.
Sig*nif"i*cant (?), a. [L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare.
See Signify.] 1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl
having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or
suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look.
It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but
not efficient.
Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant
event.
Significant figures (Arith.), the figures which remain to any number,
or decimal fraction, after the ciphers at the right or left are
canceled. Thus, the significant figures of 25,000, or of .0025, are 25.
Sig*nif"i*cant, n. That which has significance; a sign; a token; a
symbol. Wordsworth.
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.
Shak.
Sig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv. In a significant manner.
Sig*nif"i*cate (?), n. [L. significatus, p. p. of significare. See
Signify.] (Logic) One of several things signified by a common term.
Whately.
Sig`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [F. signification, L. significatio.] 1. The
act of signifying; a making known by signs or other means.
A signification of being pleased.
Landor.
All speaking or signification of one's mind implies an act or
addres of one man to another.
South.
2. That which is signified or made known; that meaning which a sign,
character, or token is intended to convey; as, the signification of
words.
Sig*nif"i*ca*tive (?), a. [L. significativus: cf. F. significatif.] 1.
Betokening or representing by an external sign.
The holy symbols or signs are not barely significative.
Brerewood.
2. Having signification or meaning; expressive of a meaning or purpose;
significant.
Neither in the degrees of kindred they were destitute of
significative words.
Camden.
-- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ly, adv. -- Sig*nif"i*ca*tive*ness, n.
Sig"ni*fi*ca`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. significateur.] One who, or that
which, signifies.
In this diagram there was one significator which pressed remarkably
upon our astrologer's attention.
Sir W. Scott.
Sig*nif"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [L. significatorius.] Significant. -- n.
That which is significatory.
||Sig`ni*fi*ca"vit (?), n. [L., (he) has signified, perf. ind. of
||significare to signify.] (Eng. Eccl. Law) Formerly, a writ issuing
||out of chancery, upon certificate given by the ordinary, of a man's
||standing excommunicate by the space of forty days, for the laying him
||up in prison till he submit himself to the authority of the church.
||Crabb.
Sig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Signifying (?).] [F. signifier, L. significare; signum a sign + -ficare
(in comp.) to make. See Sign, n., and -fy.] 1. To show by a sign; to
communicate by any conventional token, as words, gestures, signals, or
the like; to announce; to make known; to declare; to express; as, a
signified his desire to be present.
I 'll to the king; and signify to him That thus I have resign'd my
charge to you.
Shak.
The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that
want of silver is not to be remedied.
Swift.