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Jackson6612 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

problem in the definition of ''patronize''

1b00Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary:02b02br
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01b01i01font00patronzie:02font02i02b02br
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01font01b002:02b00 to adopt an air of condescension toward: to treat haughtily or coolly02font02br
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01b01font02font02b02br
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01b01font00Questions:02font02b02br
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01b001:02b00 01font00What does 01i00an air of02i00 mean?02font02br
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01b002:02b00 01font00I think the following sentences:02font02br
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01b01font00a:02font02b00 01i00to adopt an air of condescension toward02i02br
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00AND02br
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01b01font00b:02font02b00 01i00to treat haughtily or coolly02i02br
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01font00mean the opposite of each other, which they shouldn't. What do you have to say on this?02font0-
  

Top answer

0 To me the two sentences in Merriam-Webster do mean the same, but the OED puts it more simply and directly: "treat condescendingly". 0-

— Feebs11

  • 0 To me the two sentences in Merriam-Webster do mean the same, but the OED puts it more simply and directly: "treat condescendingly".
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7 Answers
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0 To me the two sentences in Merriam-Webster do mean the same, but the OED puts it more simply and directly: "treat condescendingly". "To adopt an air of condescension" means that your attitude is condescending, and in some people that will come across as haughtiness.0-
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0You will only find them opposites if you take this definition of condescending.1 a 01b00:02b00 to descend to a less formal or dignified level 01b00: 01a00UNBEND02a02b00 01b00b02b00 01b00:02b00 to waive the privileges of rank02br
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0Nona, you understood my question very well. If I use second definition (01i00to assume an air of superiority02i00), then you have already answered my question. But again definitions 01b001a02b00 and 01b001b02b00 of 01i00condescend02i00 seem opposites to me.02br
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0 Maybe in their attitudes, yes, but in practical terms they are the same thing. If someone is a Princess and either stops acting like a princess (definition 1) or refuses to let others treat them like a princess (definition 2) then their behaviour and treatment will be the same. 0-
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01cite10Jackson661212cite12br
10Nona, you understood my question very well. If I use second definition (11i10to assume an air of superiority12i10), then you have already answered my question. But again definitions 11b101a12b10 and 11b101b12b10 of 11i10
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0 Please help me. 0-
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1b01u00My comments:02u02b02br
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01font01b001a:02b00 If someone is descending to a less dignified level, then he is bending himself not unbending.02font02br
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01font01b001b:02b00 Likewise, if someone is waiving the privile
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