condescend

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To come down or go down

   To come down or go down; to descend.

   • To ſtoop to any ſordid lovv Action, is to imitate the Kite, vvhich flyeth high in the Air, yet vouchſafes to condeſcend to Carrion upon the Ground.
2. 2

   To come down from a superior position and do something

   To come down from a superior position and do something; to deign; (with a negative connotation) to stoop.

   • The boss condescended not to sack him after much persuasion from his coworkers.
   • Truli I knowe him [the Devil] to wel, and haue obeyed him a little to much in condiſcenting to ſome folies.
   • Be of the ſame mind one towards another. Minde not high things, but condeſcend to men of low eſtate. Be not wiſe in your owne conceits.
3. 3

   To treat someone as though inferior

   To treat someone as though inferior; to talk down to someone; to patronize.

   • "You must know," said Estella, condescending to me as a brilliant and beautiful woman might, "that I have no heart—if that has anything to do with my memory."
   • Ermine never let any one be condescending to her, and conducted the conversation with her usual graceful good breeding, […]
4. ›+ 8 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Chiefly followed by on or upon

      Chiefly followed by on or upon: to go into detail; to particularize, to specify.

   2. 5

      To agree to something

      To agree to something; to accede, to assent, to consent; also, to reach an agreement.

      • Than were they condeſended that Kyng Arthure and syr mordred ſhold mete betwyxte bothe theyr hooſtes and eueryche of them shold brynge fourtene persones […]
      • Careles and shamlesse, / Thriftles and gracelesse, / Together are bended, / And so condyscended, / That the commune welth / Shall neuer haue good helth, […]
      • For thoſe iuſtly deſerue yͤ ſworde, which with no reaſonable condicions, wil condeſcende vnto peace.
   3. 6

      To give way or yield in a deferential manner

      To give way or yield in a deferential manner; to be amenable or compliant.

      • Henricus the Emperour [Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor] fearing þᵉ vaine thūderbolt of the Popes curse, talking with his princes, and perswaded by his frendes, was fain to condescend to the vnreasonable conditions of the Pope: […]
      • Theodoſius gave eare & condiſcended to his vvords, […]
      • Can they think me ſo broken, ſo debas'd / VVith corporal ſervitude, that my mind ever / VVill condeſcend to ſuch abſurd commands?
   4. 7

      To graciously give

      To graciously give; to vouchsafe.

      • [W]hen John [the author of the Gospel of John] asks thee [Jesus] a queſtion […] thou condeſcendeſt to a mild and full (though ſecret) ſatisfaction.
   5. 8

      To reach a certain point

      To reach a certain point; to settle on.

      • [T]hereafter our cavalier condescendeth again to matters of fact.
   6. 9

      To secretly make plans, usually to bring about a bad or illegal result

      To secretly make plans, usually to bring about a bad or illegal result; to conspire, to plot.

      • [S]he perſwaded the Duke of Clarence, that it was neyther naturall, nor honorable to him eyther to condiſcende or take parte againſt the houſe of Yorke, (of which he was lineally diſcended) and to ſet vp agayne the houſe of Lancaſtre, […]
   7. 10

      To treat (someone) as though inferior

      To treat (someone) as though inferior; to talk down to (someone); to patronize.

      • I didn't mean to condescend you, Mr. Shreck.
      • I'm not trying to condescend you, Ben.
   8. 11

      Often preceded by the dummy pronoun it

      Often preceded by the dummy pronoun it: to agree to (something); to consent.

      • It was condescended by the warring parties that they should lay down their arms and seek peace.

The neighborhood

• neighborcondescendence
• neighborcondescend upon
• neighborcondescension
• neighbordescend