condescend

Definitions

con- (together) + de- (down) + scend (climb) = literally 'to climb down together with' someone, lowering yourself to their level. It started as a courtesy — a superior graciously stepping down — but the modern sense soured into acting superior while only pretending to come down to your level.

Why It Means This

Condescend has flipped tone over the centuries. In older English a king could 'condescend to dine with commoners' and it was a genuine compliment — gracious humility. But because the act always assumes a height to climb down from, the word slowly absorbed the arrogance of that assumption. Today, if someone condescends to you, they are not being kind; they are reminding you, however politely, that they consider themselves above you.

Common Collocations

• 1.condescend to居高临下地对待
• 2.condescend to do something屈尊去做某事
• 3.never condescend从不摆架子

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Don't condescend to me — I understand the situation perfectly well.

• 2.

  She finally condescended to answer my question.

• 3.

  He never condescends to his junior staff.