condescend

[ kon-duh-send ]
/ ˌkɒn dəˈsɛnd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR condescend ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity.
to stoop or deign to do something: He would not condescend to misrepresent the facts.
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.
Obsolete.
  1. to yield.
  2. to assent.

Origin of condescend

1300–50; Middle English condescenden < Late Latin condēscendere (see con-, descend); replacing Middle English condescendre < Middle French

OTHER WORDS FROM condescend

con·des·cend·er, con·des·cend·ent, noun

Words nearby condescend

condensed matter physics, condensed milk, condensed-matter physics, condenser, condensing osteitis, condescend, condescendence, condescending, condescension, condign, condignity

Words related to condescend

vouchsafe, accord, submit, acquiesce, grant, oblige, yield, accommodate, favor, concede, descend, deign, agree, comply, bend, unbend

Example sentences from the Web for condescend

British Dictionary definitions for condescend

condescend
/ (ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnd) /

verb (intr)

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

Word Origin for condescend

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