late 13c., "be a sign of, indicate, mean," from Old French signifier (12c.), from Latin significare "to make signs, show by signs, point out, express; mean, signify; foreshadow, portend," from significus (adj.), from signum "sign" (see sign (n.)) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Intransitive sense of "to be of importance" is attested from 1660s. Meaning "engage in mock-hostile banter" is American English black slang first recorded 1932.
...'signifying,' which in Harlemese means making a series of oblique remarks apparently addressed to no one in particular, but unmistakable in intention in such a close-knit circle. ["Down Beat," March 7, 1968]
中文解释
1、sign- + -ify.
实用例句
1. The striped band round a policeman's sleeve is to signify that he is on duty.
警察袖子上的袖标标明他正在执勤.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. The UN flag was raised at the airport yesterday to signify that control had passed into its hands.
昨天机场升起了联合国的旗帜，表明控制权已移交给联合国了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. State ownership in itself does not signify collective control.
国家所有本身并不意味集体控制.
来自辞典例句
4. It doesn't signify, so you needn't worry about it.