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Deign

 - 3 dictionary results

deign

  [deyn]
Use Deign in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to think fit or in accordance with one's dignity; condescend: He would not deign to discuss the matter with us.
–verb (used with object)
2. to condescend to give or grant: He deigned no reply.
3. Obsolete. to condescend to accept.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME deinen < OF deignier < L dignārī to judge worthy, equiv. to dign(us) worthy + -ārī inf. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Deign
deign   (dān)   
v.   deigned, deign·ing, deigns

v.   intr.
To think it appropriate to one's dignity; condescend: wouldn't deign to greet the servant who opened the door. See Synonyms at stoop1.
v.   tr.
To condescend to give or grant; vouchsafe. "Nor would we deign him burial of his men" (Shakespeare).

[Middle English deinen, from Old French deignier, to regard as worthy, from Latin dignārī, from dignus, worthy; see dek- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

deign 
1297, from O.Fr. deignier, from L. dignari "to deem worthy or fit," from dignus "worthy" (see dignity). Sense of "take or accept graciously" led to that of "condescend" (1589).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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