condescend
verb /ˌkɒndɪˈsend/
/ˌkɑːndɪˈsend/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they condescend | /ˌkɒndɪˈsend/ /ˌkɑːndɪˈsend/ |
| he / she / it condescends | /ˌkɒndɪˈsendz/ /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendz/ |
| past simple condescended | /ˌkɒndɪˈsendɪd/ /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪd/ |
| past participle condescended | /ˌkɒndɪˈsendɪd/ /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪd/ |
| -ing form condescending | /ˌkɒndɪˈsendɪŋ/ /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] condescend to do something (often disapproving) to do something that you think it is below your social or professional position to do synonym deign
- We had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us.
- [intransitive] condescend to somebody to behave towards somebody as though you are more important and more intelligent than they are
- When giving a talk, be careful not to condescend to your audience.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘give way, defer’): from Old French condescendre, from ecclesiastical Latin condescendere, from con- ‘together’ + descendere ‘descend’.