to behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity.
2.
to stoop or deign to do something: He would not condescend to misrepresent the facts.
3.
to put aside one's dignity or superiority voluntarily and assume equality with one regarded as inferior: He condescended to their intellectual level in order to be understood.
4.
Obsolete.
a.
to yield.
b.
to assent.
[Origin: 1300–50; ME condescenden < LL condéscendere (see con-, descend); r. ME condescendre < MF]
con·de·scendAudio Help (kŏn'dĭ-sěnd') Pronunciation Key
intr.v.
con·de·scend·ed, con·de·scend·ing, con·de·scends
To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself. See Synonyms at stoop1.
To deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner.
[Middle English condescenden, from Old French condescendre, from Late Latin condēscendere : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com- + dēscendere, to descend; see descend.]
1340, from O.Fr. condescendere, from L.L. condescendere "to let oneself down," from L. com- "together" + descendere "descend." Originally "to yield deferentially;" sense of "to sink willingly to equal terms with inferiors" is from 1611.
to agree (to do something) in spite of one's feeling of superiority Example: The president of the company condescended to having dinner with the cleaning staff.
Con`de*scend"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condescended; p. pr. & vb. n. Condescending.] [F. condescendre, LL. condescendere, fr. L. con- + descendere. See Descend.]1. To stoop or descend; to let one's self down; to submit; to waive the privilege of rank or dignity; to accommodate one's self to an inferior. "Condescend to men of low estate." --Rom. xii. 16. Can they think me so broken, so debased With corporal servitude, that my mind ever Will condescend to such absurd commands? --Milton. Spain's mighty monarch, In gracious clemency, does condescend, On these conditions, to become your friend. --Dryden. Note: Often used ironically, implying an assumption of superiority. Those who thought they were honoring me by condescending to address a few words to me. --F. W. Robinson. 2. To consent. [Obs.] All parties willingly condescended heruento. --R. Carew. Syn: To yield; stoop; descend; deign; vouchsafe.