condescend

[ kon-duh-send ]

verb (used without object)

1. to behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity.
2. to stoop or deign to do something:

   He would not condescend to misrepresent the facts.

3. to put aside one's dignity or superiority voluntarily and assume equality with one regarded as inferior:

   He condescended to their intellectual level in order to be understood.

4. Obsolete.
   1. to yield.
   2. to assent.

condescend

/ ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnd /

verb

1. to act graciously towards another or others regarded as being on a lower level; behave patronizingly
2. to do something that one regards as below one's dignity

Other Words From

• condes·cender condes·cendent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of condescend¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English condescenden, from Late Latin condēscendere ( con-, descend ); replacing Middle English condescendre, from Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of condescend¹

C14: from Church Latin condēscendere to stoop, condescend, from Latin dēscendere to descend

Example Sentences

She gave him the what-for pretty regularly and he would give her that condescending dad eye.

From Eater

Steward says what persuaded him to get the shot was clear facts presented in a way that wasn’t condescending.

From MIT Technology Review

European leaders even more obviously condescend to him and Angela Merkel is not longer holding back about settlements.

From The Daily Beast

"I wouldn't condescend to be mean, Laura," put in Lady Margaret, whilst the dowager fanned her hot face.

From Project Gutenberg

“If you will condescend to explain the frying-pan I may perhaps relieve you from the fire,” said Selby with emphasis.

From Project Gutenberg

It will be quite all right for you to offer me a cup of tea, if your kitchen mechanic will condescend.

From Project Gutenberg

It went perforce to the ragman, if he would condescend to accept it.

From Project Gutenberg

They might condescend to drop me a courtesy, and then—anarchy, as before.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Condescend

What does condescend mean?

Condescend commonly means to interact with others in a way that implies that you’re superior to them. It especially refers to when this is done in an arrogant or patronizing way—meaning when you act as if you’re doing someone a favor by supposedly lowering yourself to their level of understanding or intelligence.

This sense of the word is often used with the word to and the recipient of such behavior, as in Don’t condescend to me. 

This sense of condescend is always used negatively and implies that such behavior is insulting to the person or people it’s directed toward. The adjective condescending is used to describe people who act in such a way, or their words or actions, as in condescending tone. Condescending often involves not only what is said but also how it’s said. A condescending tone is often one that sounds like it’s directed at a child.

Condescend can also mean to stoop to a lower level or to do something that one considers as below one’s dignity. A close synonym of this sense of the word is deign.

The act of condescending is called condescension.

Example: Why do you feel the need to condescend every time you explain something?

Where does condescend come from?

The first records of the word condescend come from the 1300s. It comes from the Late Latin condēscendere, which means “to stoop” and derives from the Latin dēscendere, “to descend.”

Condescending always involves stooping or descending to the level of those considered inferior. A person who condescends to another usually isn’t outright insulting them. Instead, they’re speaking as if the person they’re addressing doesn’t have the ability to understand their supposedly superior intelligence.

Condescend and patronize are often used as synonyms, but they can have slightly different shades of meaning. A person might patronize another by telling them what they think they want to hear. But more often than not, someone who’s condescending is intentionally trying to display their supposed superiority through their tone.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to condescend?

• condescending (continuous tense verb, adjective)
• condescension (noun)

What are some synonyms for condescend?

• patronize
• deign

What are some words that share a root or word element with condescend? 

• descend

What are some words that often get used in discussing condescend?

• tone
• comment
• remark
• attitude
• superior
• rude
• arrogant

How is condescend used in real life?

Condescend is usually used negatively to imply rudeness or disrespect.

It’s really lame to condescend and be all, “why don’t you love this really heady hard to digest activist and educator I love the way you love a beautiful celebrity for singing and dancing?!” Bc entertainment is popular and accessible! What an idiotic, unoriginal thought

— Rae Sanni (@raesanni) June 24, 2020

your problem is you condescend instead of educate

— 👍Certified Madhir👍 (@ilydeennn) June 23, 2020

It’s just never going to not feel weird to see someone condescend to others by bringing up the same things they sneered at you for bringing up only so long ago. I don’t feel bitterness, but the hurt lingers, and I still wonder why it wasn’t enough when I told you.

— Ashley C. Ford (@iSmashFizzle) June 29, 2020

 

 

Try using condescend!

Is condescend used correctly in the following sentence?

He refused to condescend to the level of the common peasants.