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

Joe Biden and Donald Trump — who plainly detest each other — wouldn’t deign to shake hands. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024

Then, when the Sun finally deigns to shine on your sign, your own ruler Venus leaves you for Scorpio. —Jennifer Culp, Them, 13 Sep. 2024

Even though Democratic lawmakers had been instrumental in its passage, López Obrador did not deign to meet them. —Arturo Sarukhan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2022

According to a Variety report published in November 2023, the upcoming film has been plagued by script changes and a lack of creative direction, with one version of the film deigning to morph into a narrative that sidelines its main draw, the double Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 Mar. 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