Condescending

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  condescending \condescending\ adj.
     exhibiting an attitude of superiority; patronizing; -- used
     of behavior or attitude.
  
     Syn: arch, patronizing.
          [WordNet 1.5]



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Condescend \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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Can they think me so broken, so debased
              With corporal servitude, that my mind ever
              Will condescend to such absurd commands? --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Spain's mighty monarch,
              In gracious clemency, does condescend,
              On these conditions, to become your friend.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Often used ironically, implying an assumption of
           superiority.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Those who thought they were honoring me by
                 condescending to address a few words to me. --F.
                                                    W. Robinson.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To consent. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              All parties willingly condescended heruento. --R.
                                                    Carew.
  
     Syn: To yield; stoop; descend; deign; vouchsafe.
          [1913 Webster] Condescendence

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  condescending
       adj : (used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who
             treat others with condescension [syn: {arch}, {patronizing},
              {patronising}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  34 Moby Thesaurus words for "condescending":
     arrogant, belittling, big, contemptuous, disdainful, domineering,
     haughty, high-faluting, high-flown, high-handed, high-hat,
     high-headed, high-nosed, hoity-toity, imperious, lofty,
     overbearing, patronizing, pompous, priggish, proud, purse-proud,
     sniffy, snippy, snobbish, snobby, snooty, snotty, stuck-up,
     superior, toplofty, uppish, uppity, upstage