condescending

[ kon-duh-sen-ding ]
/ ˌkɒn dəˈsɛn dɪŋ /

adjective

showing or implying a usually patronizing descent from dignity or superiority: They resented the older neighbors' condescending cordiality.

Origin of condescending

First recorded in 1630–40; condescend + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM condescending

Definition for condescending (2 of 2)

condescend
[ kon-duh-send ]
/ ˌkɒn dəˈsɛnd /

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

Example sentences from the Web for condescending

British Dictionary definitions for condescending (1 of 2)

condescending
/ (ˌkɒndɪˈsɛndɪŋ) /

adjective

showing or implying condescension by stooping to the level of one's inferiors, esp in a patronizing way

Derived forms of condescending

condescendingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for condescending (2 of 2)

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