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

Example Sentences

The love of ambiguity can feel somewhat coy—Ms. Tokarczuk gestures toward the existence of occult mysteries without deigning to fully portray them.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Salon

Which she already has, along with all the extracurriculars required to prove she will be an asset to whichever university deigns to accept our tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, housing and fees.

From Los Angeles Times

More than that, he also secured a prized meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a head of government who rarely deigns to trouble himself with mere foreign ministers.

From BBC

“What pretty skirts,” she deigned to say, looking away.

From Literature