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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself. See Synonyms at stoop1.
  2. v. To deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. To descend from the superior position, rank, or dignity proper or usually accorded to one; voluntarily waive ceremony and assume equality with an inferior; be complaisant, yielding, or consenting in dealings with inferiors; deign.
  2. To stoop or submit; be subject; yield.
  3. To assent; agree.
  4. To agree to submit or furnish; specify; vouchsafe: with upon: as, to condescend upon particulars.
  5. Synonyms To stoop, deign, vouchsafe, bend.

Wiktionary

  1. v. To come down from one's superior position; to deign (to do something).
  2. v. To treat someone as an inferior, to talk down to someone.
  3. v. To consent, agree.
  4. v. To come down.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To stoop or descend; to let one's self down; to submit; to waive the privilege of rank or dignity; to accommodate one's self to an inferior.
  2. v. To consent.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
  2. v. treat condescendingly
  3. v. do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
  4. v. debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way

Etymologies

  1. Middle English condescenden, from Old French condescendre, from Late Latin condēscendere : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com- + dēscendere, to descend; see descend.

Examples

  • “Will you, Wallace, again condescend to save a country that has treated you so ungratefully?”

    The Scottish Chiefs

  • “Does one of your name condescend to a dirty trade, and serve women that are not fit to tie a Douglas's shoe, and then come to me and talk of what's possible.”

    Kirsteen: The Story of a Scotch Family Seventy Years Ago

  • “Absolutely, Bellville, if I do condescend, which is yet extremely doubtful, we will live in the style of lovers; I hate the dull road of common marriages: no impertinent presuming on the name of husband; no saucy freedoms; I will continue to be courted, and shall expect as much flattery, and give myself as many scornful airs, as if I had never honored you with my hand.”

    The history of Lady Julia Mandeville

  • “This last deficiency the guide is in the habit of supplying -- to such as condescend to accept his assistance -- by fastening a leathern strap round his waist, and giving the end of it into the hand of the traveller.”

    Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 61, No. 376, February, 1847

  • “To say that Coleridge would not 'condescend' would be”

    The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1838

  • “No, I won't "condescend" to serve as stenographer of who said what at the forum - nor did I expect that from bloggers here.”

    Green Mountain Daily - Front Page

  • “I won't "condescend" to serve as stenographer of who said what at the forum”

    Green Mountain Daily - Front Page

  • “I guess I would just challenge the notion that I "condescend" to my constituents, or otherwise treat them disrespectfully, whether in the course of constituent service (which I do a lot of) or in interpersonal communication, or over the radio.”

    The Pink Flamingo

  • “You continue to condescend without addressing the main points:”

    The Volokh Conspiracy » More on Israeli Incompetence

  • “He loved how he projected authority without insulting anyone, how he disregarded their babbled protests without appearing dismissive, how he bent them to his purpose without seeming to bully or condescend.”

    Simon & Schuster: O: A Presidential Novel

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‘condescend’ has been looked up 2546 times, loved by 1 person, added to 26 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 16.