dignity

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun The quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect.
• noun Inherent nobility and worth.
• noun Poise and self-respect.
• noun Stateliness and formality in manner and appearance.
• noun The respect and honor associated with an important position.
• noun A high office or rank.
• noun The ceremonial symbols and observances attached to high office.
• noun Archaic A dignitary.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun The state of being worthy; nobleness or elevation of mind; worthiness: as, dignity of sentiments.
• noun Elevation; honorable place or elevated rank; degree of excellence, either in estimation or in the order of nature: as, man is superior in dignity to brutes.
• noun Elevation and repose of aspect or of deportment; nobility of mien: as, a man of native dignity; “dignity of attitude,”
• noun Height; importance; rank.
• noun An elevated office, civil or ecclesiastical; hereditary rank or title, or official distinction.
• noun The rank or title of a nobleman; the right to use a title of honor, originally in virtue of an estate and accompanied by an official function.
• noun One who holds high rank; a dignitary.
• noun Any honor conferred; promotion.
• noun In rhetoric, avoidance of unseemly or trivial tropes and figures.
• noun In astrology, a situation in which a planet has an influence more powerful than usual.
• noun A self-evident truth; an axiom.
• noun Majesty, stateliness, gravity.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun The state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or character; true worth; excellence.
• noun Elevation; grandeur.
• noun Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation.
• noun Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of mien, manner, style, etc.
• noun One holding high rank; a dignitary.
• noun obsolete Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim.
• noun to have or to affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun A quality or state worthy of esteem and respect.
• noun Decorum, formality, stateliness.
• noun High office, rank, or station.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun high office or rank or station
• noun formality in bearing and appearance
• noun the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect