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Glite Dictionary
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significatory

significatory

9.9
The meaning or idea behind something
  • noun
  • /sɪɡˈnɪfɪˌkeɪtəri/
  • Archaic
translation icon : significación
  • In her essay, she explored the significatory of colors in medieval art.

Examples

  • The significatory of the ancient symbol was lost to modern scholars.

  • The poet used the word for its deep significatory rather than its literal sense.

  • The significatory meaning is clear.

  • What is the significatory aspect of this painting?

  • The significatory meaning of the old manuscript was revealed through careful study.

  • In his lecture, he discussed the significatory role of language in shaping cultural identity.

  • Many people overlook the significatory details that give the painting its emotional depth.

Synonyms

significance
vssignificatory
52 3.8

The meaning or message something has

is the archaic or literary way to mean something rather than stress importance
signification
vssignificatory
2 7.7

The meaning that a word, sign, or symbol expresses

is an older or literary label for that same sense
signified
vssignificatory
  • Specialized
8.4

The idea that a word or sign shows

is a general archaic or literary term not a technical linguistic label

How Significant

importance
663 1.0
consequence
100 4.2
significatory
  • Archaic
9.9
meaning
890 1.0

Surface Forms

significatory singular
significatories plural

Morphology

significatory = significatory (opaque) = signific + atory

The noun use is a conversion from an archaic adjectival form, and the Latinate stem is not transparently decomposable for an average learner.

Etymology

Significatory comes from the Latin significare, formed from sign ('sign') and -ficare ('to make'). So in older or literary use a significatory can mean the 'meaning' or 'significance' of a symbol, the idea it stands for.