Dig"ni*ty (?), n.; pl.
Dignities (#). [OE. dignete, dignite,
OF. digneté, dignité, F.
dignité, fr. L. dignitas, from dignus
worthy. See Dainty, Deign.] 1. The
state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or character;
true worth; excellence.
2. Elevation; grandeur.
The dignity of this act was worth the audience
of kings.
Shak.
3. Elevated rank; honorable station; high
office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence;
preferment; exaltation. Macaulay.
And the king said, What honor and dignity hath
been done to Mordecai for this?
Esth. vi. 3.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, . . . the excellency of
dignity, and the excellency of power.
Gen.
xlix. 3.
4. Quality suited to inspire respect or
reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said
of mien, manner, style, etc.
A letter written with singular energy and
dignity of thought and language.
Macaulay.
5. One holding high rank; a
dignitary.
These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of
dignities.
Jude. 8.
6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim.
[Obs.]
Sciences concluding from dignities, and
principles known by themselves.
Sir T.
Browne.
Syn. -- See Decorum.
To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to
affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or
character.
They did not stand upon their dignity, nor give
their minds to being or to seeming as elegant and as fine as anybody
else.
R. G. White.