to condescend
3
8.1
- verb
- /ˌkɒndɪˈsɛnd/
:
condescender
- Mr. Rawlings condescended to answer.
Examples
-
On nights when she couldn't find her own fun, she used to condescend to ride around with them, listen to their eight-track tapes, and drink their Coors.
Fiction book (1995) -
But how good of you, a nobleman of the highest rank... to condescend to tell all this to me, a mere strolling minstrel.
-
Perhaps you, Doctor, would condescend to take over?
-
- It is very good of Mr Fielding to condescend to visit our friend.
-
I don't mean to condescend, but I actually feel sorry for you.
Blog text (25) -
- It's about time you condescended to make an appearance.
-
In those days, however, allowing a son to go abroad for an education was something that no Chinese family of any standing would condescend to do.
Academic text (1992) -
My nephew, Miss Austen, condescends far indeed in offering to the daughter of an obscure and impecunious clergyman.
-
He refused to condescend to the opinions of his subordinates during the meeting.
-
After years of success, she finally decided to condescend to join the charity event.
Synonyms
53
3.7
Think you are better than someone and treat them as less important
52
7.0
To treat someone as if you are better or smarter than them
15
6.6
Speak to someone as if they are less smart or important
14
6.7
To speak to someone as if they are less smart or less important
11
8.1
To lower yourself by doing something you think is wrong
9
7.4
Do something you think is beneath your dignity
7
9.5
To do something someone thinks is below them, usually unwillingly
7
8.2
Treat someone as if you are better than them
6
8.2
Act as if you are better than other people
4
7.5
To act as if you are better than other people because of your money or taste
4
6.5
Act in a way that makes people respect you less
1
6.7
Behave as if you are better than other people
Talk to someone in a way that shows you feel better than them
To act like someone is less able in a motherly way
Phrasal Verbs
How Condescending
53
6.8
45
5.0
3
8.1
- Offensive
52
7.0
332
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Condescend comes from the Latin parts con- and descend, which mean 'together' and 'to go down', like descend when you 'go down' the stairs. So, to condescend in this sense is to 'lower' yourself to do something you think is beneath your dignity.