deign
- to think fit or in accordance with one's dignity; condescend: He would not deign to discuss the matter with us.
- to condescend to give or grant: He deigned no reply.
- Obsolete. to condescend to accept.
Origin of deign
Examples from the Web for deigning
Contemporary Examples of deigning
Chewing on a thick piece of gum, Moss ceremoniously pulled it out when deigning to talk.
Historical Examples of deigning
The Belknap-Jacksons left hastily, not deigning him a glance.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
Mama demanded fiercely, deigning for the first time to address me.
Greener Than You ThinkWard Moore
They moved from place to place, despising agriculture, and not deigning to build.
The Boy CrusadersJohn G. Edgar
Flo was in an agony of tears, not deigning to look at the rescued ball.
The Vicar of BullhamptonAnthony Trollope
"I don't know nothing about that," said the lad, not deigning to look at the Squire.
The Vicar of BullhamptonAnthony Trollope
deign
- (intr) to think it fit or worthy of oneself (to do something); condescendhe will not deign to speak to us
- (tr) archaic to vouchsafehe deigned no reply
Word Origin for deign
Word Origin and History for deigning
deign
c.1300, from Old French deignier (Modern French daigner), from Latin dignari "to deem worthy or fit" (source of Italian degnare, Spanish deñar), from dignus "worthy" (see dignity). Sense of "take or accept graciously" led to that of "condescend" (1580s). Related: Deigned; deigning.