Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense deigns, present participle deigning, past tense, past participle deigned
verb
If you say that someone deigned to do something, you are expressing your disapproval of the fact that they did it unwillingly, because they thought they were too importantto do it.
[formal, disapproval]
At last, Harper deigned to speak. [VERB to-infinitive]
Weatherby didn't deign to reply. [VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: condescend, consent, stoop, see fit More Synonyms of deign
deign in British English
(deɪn)
verb
1. (intransitive)
to think it fit or worthy of oneself (to do something); condescend
she will not deign to speak to us
2. (transitive) archaic
to vouchsafe
he deigned no reply
Word origin
C13: from Old French deignier, from Latin dignārī to consider worthy, from dignus worthy
deign in American English
(deɪn)
verb intransitive
1.
to condescend to do something thought to be slightly beneath one's dignity
the duchess deigned to shake my hand
verb transitive
2.
to condescend to give
to deign no answer
SIMILAR WORDS: stoop
Word origin
ME deignen < OFr deignier < L dignare, dignari, to deem worthy < dignus, worthy: see dignity
Examples of 'deign' in a sentence
deign
Then she said stiffly, `Well, since my friend didn't deign to tell me last night, I had to find out through the grapevine.
Skelton, Alison Scott AN OLDER WOMAN (2002)
If you get there on the stroke of nine, they deign to take your paperwork off you and tell you to come back in four hours ' time.
Val McDermid KICK BACK (2002)
Dr Mann didn't deign to interrupt his eating, but Jake shot me a second piercing squint.
George Cockcroft THE DICE MAN (2002)
(verb)
Definition
to do something that one considers beneath one's dignity