n. [ OE. benignite, F. bénignité, OF. bénigneté, fr. L. benignitas. See Benign. ] 1. The quality of being benign; goodness; kindness; graciousness. “Benignity of aspect.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Mildness; gentleness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The benignity or inclemency of the season. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Salubrity; wholesome quality. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. condignité. ] (Scholastic Theol.) Merit, acquired by works, which can claim reward on the score of general benevolence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such a worthiness of condignity, and proper merit of the heavenly glory, cannot be found in any the best, most perfect, and excellent of created beings. Bp. Bull. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. co- + sign. Cf. Signatory. ] Signing some important public document with another or with others; as, a treaty violated by one of the cosignitary powers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cosignitaries One who signs a treaty or public document along with others or another; as, the cosignitaries of the treaty of Berlin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. dignitaries [ Cf. F. dignitaire, fr. L. dignitas. ] One who possesses exalted rank or holds a position of dignity or honor; especially, one who holds an ecclesiastical rank above that of a parochial priest or clergyman. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Elevation; grandeur. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Esth. vi. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, . . . the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. Gen. xlix. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of mien, manner, style, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

A letter written with singular energy and dignity of thought and language. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. One holding high rank; a dignitary. [ 1913 Webster ]

These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of dignities. Jude. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by themselves. Sir T. Browne.

Syn. -- See Decorum. [ 1913 Webster ]

To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ignited p. pr. & vb. n. Igniting. ] [ L. ignitus, p. p. of ignire to ignite, fr. ignis fire. See Igneous. ] 1. To kindle or set on fire; as, to ignite paper or wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) To subject to the action of intense heat; to heat strongly; -- often said of incombustible or infusible substances; as, to ignite iron or platinum. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To take fire; to begin to burn. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. set afire or burning.
Syn. -- enkindled, kindled, lit, lighted. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire.
Syn. -- ignitor, lighter. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires.
Syn. -- lighter, light, ignitor. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Capable of being ignited. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. ignition. ] 1. The act of igniting, kindling, or setting on fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being ignited or kindled. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, produces ignition; especially, a contrivance for igniting the powder in a torpedo or the like. [ Written also igniter. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Indignities [ L. indignitas: cf. F. indignité. See Indign. ] Any action toward another which manifests contempt for him; an offense against personal dignity; unmerited contemptuous treatment; contumely; incivility or injury, accompanied with insult. [ 1913 Webster ]

How might a prince of my great hopes forget
So great indignities you laid upon me? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A person of so great place and worth constrained to endure so foul indignities. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. lignum wood: cf. F. lignite. ] (Min.) Mineral coal retaining the texture of the wood from which it was formed, and burning with an empyreumatic odor. It is of more recent origin than the anthracite and bituminous coal of the proper coal series. Called also brown coal, wood coal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing lignite; resembling, or of the nature of, lignite; as, lignitic clay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lignitic group. See Laramie Group. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Lignite + -ferous. ] Producing or containing lignite; lignitic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. malignité, L. malignitas. ] 1. The state or quality of being malignant; disposition to do evil; virulent enmity; malignancy; malice; spite. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Virulence; deadly quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

His physicians discerned an invincible malignity in his disease. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Extreme evilness of nature or influence; perniciousness; heinousness; as, the malignity of fraud. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Malice. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Engin.) Ignition in an internal-combustion engine while the inlet valve is open or before compression is completed. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A crude acetate produced by treating pyroligneous acid with a metal or basic compound; as, pyrolignite of iron (iron liquor). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To ignite anew, as of a fire. [ WordNet 1.5 ]