• IPA: /ˈdɪɡnɪti/

dignity

1. The state of being dignified or worthy of esteem: elevation of mind or character.
   • 1752, Henry Fielding, Amelia (novel), I. viii

     He uttered this ... with great majesty, or, as he called it, dignity.

   • 1981, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 5

     Every individual shall have the right to the respect of the dignity inherent in a human being.

2. Decorum, formality, stateliness.
   • 1934, Aldous Huxley, "Puerto Barrios", in Beyond the Mexique Bay:

     Official DIGNITY tends to increase in inverse ratio to the importance of the country in which the office is held.

3. High office, rank, or station.
   • 1781, Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, F. III. 231:

     He ... distributed the civil and military dignities among his favourites and followers.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Esther 6:3 ↗:

     And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?

4. One holding high rank; a dignitary.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Jude 1:8 ↗:

     These filthy dreamers […] speak evil of dignities.

5. (obsolete) Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim.
   • 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica

     Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by themselves.

• worth
• worthiness

• deign
• dignified
• dignify

• French: dignité
• German: Würde
• Italian: dignità
• Portuguese: dignidade
• Russian: досто́инство
• Spanish: dignidad

• French: forme
• Spanish: dignidad

• French: rang, dignité
• Russian: зва́ние
• Spanish: dignidad