deign definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms of deign

stoop, vouchsafe, condescend, patronize,

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6 dictionary results for: deign

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

deign

[deyn] Pronunciation Key

–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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

deign   (dān) Pronunciation Key
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.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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).

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

deign
verb
do something that one considers to be below one's dignity [syn: condescend]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Deign

Deign\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Deigning.] [OE. deinen, deignen, OF. degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy; akin to decere to be fitting. See Decent, and cf. Dainty, Dignity, Condign, Disdain.]

1. To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; -- opposed to disdain. [Obs.]

I fear my Julia would not deign my lines. --Shak.

2. To condescend to give or bestow; to stoop to furnish; to vouchsafe; to allow; to grant.

Nor would we deign him burial of his men. --Shak.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Deign

Deign\, v. i. To think worthy; to vouchsafe; to condescend; - - followed by an infinitive.

O deign to visit our forsaken seats. --Pope.

Yet not Lord Cranstone deigned she greet. --Sir W. Scott.

Round turned he, as not deigning Those craven ranks to see. --Macaulay.

Note: In early English deign was often used impersonally.