deign

verb

ˈdān 

deigned; deigning; deigns

intransitive verb

: to condescend reluctantly and with a strong sense of the affront to one's superiority that is involved : stoop

would not even deign to talk to him

One iconoclastic architect, for example, doesn't deign to speak of bathrooms.

—Carol Vogel

transitive verb

: to condescend to give or offer

never so much as deigning a glance

—George Meredith

Synonyms

• condescend
• stoop

Examples of deign in a Sentence

I wouldn't deign to answer that absurd accusation.

Recent Examples on the Web

While the majority of revelers waited in a long line to be served by an overworked bartender, some deigned to wander closer to a stage where a succession of readers tried to provide entertainment that never quite landed. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024

Only the unflappable and bulletproof Robert Downey Jr. deigned to mention the changes to the makeup of the people who voted on the awards. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French deigner, from Latin dignare, dignari, from dignus worthy — more at decent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

deign

verb

ˈdān 

: to think proper to one's dignity

did not deign to reply to the rude remark