deign Hear it!

deign Definition

deign (dān)

intransitive verb

to condescend to do something thought to be slightly beneath one's dignity the duchess deigned to shake my hand

Etymology: ME deignen < OFr deignier < L dignare, dignari, to deem worthy < dignus, worthy: see dignity

transitive verb

to condescend to give to deign no answer

deign Synonyms

deign

v.

condescend, vouchsafe, lower oneself, stoop; see condescend, patronize 2. See syn. study at condescend.

deign Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • reply: Sad to say, the SWP has not even deigned to reply.
  • accept: In half an hour they returned informing us that my lady had deigned to accept the invitation.
  • notice: The officer only deigned to notice him as he marched me off.
  • come: But since then the Prime Minister hasn't deigned to come to the House to explain what it all means.
  • visit: The Foreign Minister alone I could have withstood, but when the Premier also deigned to visit my humble roof!
  • look: And Hilda, not deigning to look at me, answered no, but her brother did.

Adjective complement

  • worthy: Rejoice, thou who wast deigned worthy of the grace of the priesthood on receiving the Angelic schema!

Modifying Another Word

  • finally: Friday 14 May Dragged in The International Cricket Council finally deigns to do something about the ludicrous state of cricket in Zimbabwe.
  • even: Sad to say, the SWP has not even deigned to reply.
  • never: Both of them were senior to me on the school list, and had never deigned to speak to me before.
  • not: The comrades did not deign to give the meeting any reason for their decision.
  • n't: We don't know what audiences want, we would n't deign to guess.
  • yet: Such lordly pomp is not for me, Far other scenes my eyes must see: Yet deign to list my harping.

Browse dictionary entries near deign

  1. deify
  2. deification
  3. deific
  4. deictic
  5. deicide
  6. dehypnotize
  7. dehydrogenate
  8. dehydrogenase
  9. dehydrate
  10. dehumidify
  1. deil
  2. Deimos
  3. deindustrialization
  4. deinstitutionalize
  5. deionize
  6. Deirdre
  7. deism
  8. deist
  9. deity
  10. deject