condescend
To come down from a superior position and do somethingTo come down from a superior position and do something; to deign; (with a negative connotation) to stoop.
» Tom looked at Mary with a condescending smile.
Meaning
11 senses(figuratively, intransitive)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.
herablassen
снизойти́snizojtí
(figuratively, intransitive)To treat someone as though inferior; to talk down to someone; to patronize.
bevormunden, herablassend behandeln
(figuratively, intransitive)Chiefly followed by on or upon: to go into detail; to particularize, to specify.
(nonstandard, rare, transitive)To treat (someone) as though inferior; to talk down to (someone); to patronize.
(intransitive, obsolete)To come down or go down; to descend.
(figuratively, intransitive, obsolete)To agree to something; to accede, to assent, to consent; also, to reach an agreement.
(figuratively, intransitive, obsolete)To give way or yield in a deferential manner; to be amenable or compliant.
(figuratively, intransitive, obsolete)To graciously give; to vouchsafe.
(figuratively, intransitive, obsolete)To reach a certain point; to settle on.
(figuratively, intransitive, obsolete)To secretly make plans, usually to bring about a bad or illegal result; to conspire, to plot.
(obsolete, transitive)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.
- debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way
- do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
- behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
- treat condescendingly
Examples
27 sentencesTom looked at Mary with a condescending smile.
Don't be so condescending.
ruНе будь таким снисходительным.
Don't be condescending.
ruНе будь снисходительным.
Sami was extremely rude and condescending.
Ziri doesn't even know what "condescending" means.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English condescenden, condescendre (“to deign, condescend; to accede graciouslFrom Middle English condescenden, condescendre (“to deign, condescend; to accede graciously; to agree; to agree to, give consent; to make a concession, yield; etc.”), from Old French condescendre (“to descend, go down; to agree or assent to”) (modern French condescendre), from Ecclesiastical Latin condēscendere, the present active infinitive of condēscendō (“to stoop down; to condescend”), from Latin con- (prefix denoting a bringing together of several objects) + dēscendō (“to come or go down, descend; to stoop down”) (from dē- (prefix denoting reversal or undoing) + scandō (“to ascend, mount; to clamber”) (from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to climb, scale; to dart; to jump; etc.”))).
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Forms
condescends, condescending, condescended, condescended| Base form | condescend · to condescend |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | condescends |
| Present participle | condescending |
| Past simple | condescended |
| Past participle | condescended |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
7 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle