Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Condescend \Con`de*scend"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condescended; p. pr. & vb. n. Condescending.] [F. condescendre, LL. condescendere, fr. L. con- + descendere. See Descend.]
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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. ``Condescend to men of low estate.''
--Rom. xii. 16.Can they think me so broken, so debased With corporal servitude, that my mind ever Will condescend to such absurd commands?
--Milton.Spain's mighty monarch, In gracious clemency, does condescend, On these conditions, to become your friend.
--Dryden.Note: Often used ironically, implying an assumption of superiority.
Those who thought they were honoring me by condescending to address a few words to me.
--F. W. Robinson. -
To consent. [Obs.]
All parties willingly condescended heruento.
--R. Carew.Syn: To yield; stoop; descend; deign; vouchsafe.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
mid-14c., "to yield deferentially," from Old French condescendere (14c.) "to agree, consent, give in, yield," from Late Latin condescendere "to let oneself down," from Latin com- "together" (see com-) + descendere "descend" (see descend). Sense of "to sink willingly to equal terms with inferiors" is from mid-15c.
Wiktionary
vb. 1 (lb en intransitive) To come down from one's superior position; to deign (to do something). 2 (lb en intransitive) To treat (someone) as though inferior; to be patronize (toward someone); to talk down (to someone). 3 (lb en intransitive obsolete) To consent, agree. 4 (lb en intransitive obsolete) To come down.
WordNet
v. behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
do something that one considers to be below one's dignity [syn: deign, descend]
debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way; "I won't stoop to reading other people's mail" [syn: stoop, lower oneself]
Usage examples of "condescend".
Even intellect condescends to intellectual jugglery, balancing thoughts as a juggler balances pipes on his chin.
Bedlam, which, instead of introducing me to service, was an insurmountable objection to my character, I found myself destitute of all means of subsisting, unless I would condescend to live the infamous and wretched life of a courtezan, an expedient rendered palatable by the terrors of want, cooperating with the reflection of the irretrievable loss I had already sustained.
Count Bismarck has not condescended to send a reply to the Corps Diplomatique, requesting to be allowed to establish postal communication with their Governments, much to the disgust of that estimable body.
Blifil being a second time laid sprawling by Jones, Thwackum condescended to apply for quarter to his new antagonist, who was now found to be Mr.
Was Leonid being condescending, the way he looked over her intrepid little plane?
After the condescending surprise, nonrecognition, and praise, from those who were not themselves dressed up, the young people decided that their costumes were so good that they ought to be shown elsewhere.
In this perplexity he had recourse to his usual expedient, of submitting to the wisdom of Trajan an impartial, and, in some respects, a favorable account of the new superstition, requesting the emperor, that he would condescend to resolve his doubts, and to instruct his ignorance.
The spectacles of Carinus may therefore be best illustrated by the observation of some particulars, which history has condescended to relate concerning those of his predecessors.
When the indulgence of Theodoric had remitted two thirds of the Ligurian tribute, he condescended to explain the difficulties of his situation, and to lament the heavy though inevitable burdens which he imposed on his subjects for their own defence.
Jones, who was hardly able to support himself, offered her his arm, which she condescended to accept, but begged he would not mention a word more to her of this nature at present.
In the last scene, when the Emperor of Tartary gets up into a cart and condescends to bless the united lovers by hovering over them with the Union Jack, his eyelashes are moistened with emotion.
Some of the Fancy Ball School in which art occasionally condescends to become a master, which would be best catalogued like the miscellaneous articles in a sale.
But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies.
At last Sir Thomas Doodle has not only condescended to come in, but has done it handsomely, bringing in with him all his nephews, all his male cousins, and all his brothers-in-law.
Johnson laughed, and condescending to trifle in the same mode of conceit, suggested Dr. MOSS.