Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To do something that one regards as beneath one's social rank or dignity; lower oneself. synonym: stoop.
- intransitive verb To behave in a patronizing or superior manner toward someone.
from The Century Dictionary.
- 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.
- To stoop or submit; be subject; yield.
- To assent; agree.
- To agree to submit or furnish; specify; vouchsafe: with upon: as, to
condescend upon particulars. - Synonyms To stoop, deign, vouchsafe, bend.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb 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.
- intransitive verb obsolete To consent.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb intransitive To come down from one's
superior position; todeign (to do something). - verb intransitive To treat (someone) as though
inferior ; to bepatronizing (toward someone); totalk down (to someone). - verb intransitive, obsolete To
consent ,agree . - verb intransitive, obsolete To come down.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
- verb treat condescendingly
- verb do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
- verb debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Will you, Wallace, again condescend to save a country that has treated you so ungratefully?
The Scottish Chiefs 1875
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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 Margaret 1891
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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.
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To say that Coleridge would not 'condescend' would be
The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1838 James Gillman
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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 Various
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No, I won't "condescend" to serve as stenographer of who said what at the forum - nor did I expect that from bloggers here.
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I won't "condescend" to serve as stenographer of who said what at the forum
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I won't "condescend" to serve as stenographer of who said what at the forum
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No, I won't "condescend" to serve as stenographer of who said what at the forum - nor did I expect that from bloggers here.
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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 2008
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