Search the Dictionary

The station or dignity of an archbishop; archiepiscopacy. Fuller.

The grand marshal of the old German empire, a dignity that to the Elector of Saxony.

to the doctrines of Arius, who held Christ to be inferior to God the Father in nature and dignity, though the first and noblest of all created beings. -- n.

f a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.

an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption. I hate not you for her proud arrogance. Shak…

One who sits by another, as next in dignity, or as an assistant and adviser; an associate in office. Whence to his Son, The assessor of his throne, he thus began. Milton. With his ignorance, his inclinations, and his fancy, as his assessors in judgment. I. Taylor.

n suffix, it marks the agent; as, curate, delegate. It also sometimes marks the office or dignity; as, tribunate.

xvii. 12. Nor nearer might the dogs attain. Sir W. Scott. To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber. Cowper. Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this. J. R. Green.

Of a quality inspiring mingled admiration and reverence; having an aspect of solemn dignity or grandeur; sublime; majestic; having exalted birth, character, state, or authority. "Forms august." Pope. "August in visage." Dryden. "To shed that august blood." Macaulay. So beautiful and so august a spectacle. Burke. To min…

The quality of being august; dignity of mien; grandeur; magnificence.

The quality or state of being an author; function or dignity of an author.

The office or dignity of an autocrat.

Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean. [Obs.]

The dignity or rank of a baron.

A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except those of the Garter. It is the lowest degree of honor that is hereditary. The baronets are commoners.

The fee or domain of a baron; the lordship, dignity, or rank of a baron.

Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations. "A cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind." Robynson (More's Utopia). "Base ingratitude." Milton.

Characterizing the nature of a beast; contrary to the nature and dignity of man; brutal; filthy. The beastly vice of drinking to excess. Swift.

Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth; rather than. He that cometh after me is preferred before me. John i. 15. The eldest son is before the younger in succession. Johnson.

The governor of a province of the Ottoman empire, next in dignity to the grand vizier.