deign

American  

[deyn] / deɪn /

verb (used without object)

1. to think it appropriate to or in accordance with one's dignity; condescend.

   He would not deign to discuss the matter with us.

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verb (used with object)

1. to condescend to give or grant.

   He deigned no reply.

2. Obsolete. to condescend to accept.

deign British  

/ deɪn /

verb

1. (intr) to think it fit or worthy of oneself (to do something); condescend

   he will not deign to speak to us

2. archaic (tr) to vouchsafe

   he deigned no reply

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Etymology

Origin of deign

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English deinen, de(i)gnen, from Old French de(i)gnier, from Latin dignārī, dignāre “to judge worthy,” equivalent to dign(us) “worthy” + -ārī infinitive suffix

Explanation

Deign means to reluctantly agree to do something you consider beneath you. When threatened with the loss of her fortune, an heiress might deign to get a job, but she might look down her nose at the people she'd have to work with. Deign has the same origins as dignity. Both descend from the Latin word, dignare, meaning "to deem worthy." If you deign to do something, you don't feel it's worthy of your lofty stature, but you do it anyway — it's like you're doing someone a really big favor. Instead of admitting his wrongdoing, the politician who is accused of taking bribes might indignantly declare, "I won't deign to dignify your ridiculous accusations with a response!"

Example Sentences

Still, when she does deign to speak, there’s a dynamite scene where she dresses down Julian critically and psychologically.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

She is completely in a pantheon that I could only deign to touch.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2025

And that brings down prices for every airline passenger—whether you deign to fly Spirit or not.

From Slate • Oct. 15, 2024

Brown and black bears focus on the oily brains and nutritious roe of salmon when the fish are abundant and deign to chow down on whole fish only in years when salmon aren’t plentiful.

From Scientific American • Apr. 11, 2023

I didn’t deign to reply, merely nodded once, sharply.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss