Condescend - Proper Meaning

1b00condesend02b00 intransitive verb / 01b00condesending02b00 adjective02br
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00My dictionary has two definitions for each. The first is a nice one, as you suggest. The second is a pejorative, and in my experience the more popular.02br
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001. You voluntarily "come down" to the level of your "inferiors."

0Hi GB,02br
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00As Avangi said, the word 01b01i00condescend02i00 02b00has two meanings: a) to stoop / lower, and b) to show 00other people as though you are socially or intellectually superior 00; for examples:02br
00a) 00Please, do not 01b00condescend 02b00yourself to the level of

1blockquote

01cite10Grammarian-bot12cite10The dictionary says that it means 11i10to be gracious enough to but showing one's feeling of dignity12i10.12blockquote

10If this is a direct quote from a dictionary I would stop using it. I've never heard "condescend" used with any other meaning than the following:01ol

0Hi Ray,02br
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00I didn't get to it, but I think the point of G-b's quote is that when one stoops to a lower level (type 1) one should do it graciously, and without giving up one's true superiorty, or "dignity." I'm sure he left a lot out.02br
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00Many of the definitions I looked at treated it as a black and white issue, as though everyone were eith

0 01blockquote

01cite10Avangi12cite10 Your type 1 example, "She condesended to travel with us," is a good one, and suggests I may have been hasty in saying this type is not often used.12br
12blockquote

10Hi Avangi,02br
00Sorry, I didn't mean for it to be an example of type 1. Type 2 or b) was what I had in mind.

0 01blockquote

01cite10RayH12cite10If this is a direct quote from a dictionary I would stop using it. I've never heard "condescend" used with any other meaning than the following:11ol

11li
1. 10 To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself.11a12a12li
1

0Hey GB,02br
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00That "or superiority" is really key to how this word is actually used. "I'm so much better than you, but okay, I guess I can allow you to sit with me at this table. Even though I'd really rather people as good as ME were here instead."02br
02br
00Don't ever use this word in a way that you think is paying someone a compliment. I assure y

0 I'm pretty sure this is one of those words that has changed connotation over the years. (How old is your dictionary, G-bot?) I don't have time to look it up right now but I seem to remember in 01u00Pride and Prejudice, 02u00Mr. Collins raves about the duchess, isn't it, anyway, the member of the nobility who is his patron, saying something like "She is so gracious! So co

0 Hi Del,02br
00Such a usage is rare, indeed. Here are a couple of examples I found:02br
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00“I will endeavour myself to enlighten you—that is to say, if you will 01b00condescend yourself02b00 to listen to me.” 01i00Love and Ambition 02i00by RockingHam.02br
02br
00“If you cannot 01b00

0Hi Hoa,02br
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00I became convinced early in my life that sometimes things which appear in print are simply wrong. (Maybe an Oscar Wilde play)02br
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00Kindest wishes, - A.0-