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in·dig·ni·ty

(ĭn-dĭgnĭ-tē)

n. pl. in·dig·ni·ties

1. Humiliating, degrading, or abusive treatment.

2. A source of offense, as to a person's pride or sense of dignity; an affront.

3. Obsolete Lack of dignity or honor.

[French indignité, from Old French, from Latin indignitās, from indignus, unworthy; see INDIGN.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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