Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation.
One holding high rank; a dignitary.
A Planet's dignity basically refers to the strength of its position in the chart. A Planet is strong, or said to be Dignified, when in a sign that it rules: (See chart Signs of the Zodiac: Houses and Planetary Rulers.) It is said to be exalted when in specific signs, or to be in its fall or detriment when in other certain signs. The origins of the principles are lost in antiquity, and thought by some astrologers to be obsolete. This is beyond what we want to study now, but it helps to understand the terms when they appear in something you are reading.
A classical astrology term used to indicate comfort or standing of a planet in a particular position. Positions and aspects that strengthen the nature of the planet. A planet is dignified when it is near the Ascendant, Midheaven, in an angular house, in its natural house, or favorable aspected.
The sign that a planet rules naturally is its sign of dignity. A planet is essentially dignified when it occupies its natural sign of dignity or its sign of exaltation; it is accidentally dignified when placed in its natural house. It is in domal dignity when in its own sign.
This refers to the relative comfort that each planet enjoys in any particular sign. The Sun rules Leo, is exalted in Aries, in detriment in Aquarius, and in fall in Libra. The first two foster individuality. The last two tend to diminish it.
A term referring to a planet being in the sign of its rulership or exaltation. A planet which is in dignity, or dignified, is said to express the most positive aspects of the sign. See also Debility.