condescend

Etymology

From Middle English condescenden, from Old French condescendre, from Late Latin condēscendere (“to let one's self down, stoop, condescend”), from Latin con- (“together”) + dēscendere, present active infinitive of dēscendō (“I come down”); see descend.

verb

1. (intransitive) To come down from one's superior position; to deign (to do something).
2. (intransitive) To treat (someone) as though inferior; to be patronizing (toward someone); to talk down (to someone).
   Ermine never let any one be condescending to her, and conducted the conversation with her usual graceful good breeding. 1880, Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 7, in Clever Woman of the Family
3. (transitive, rare, nonstandard) To treat (someone) as though inferior; to be patronizing toward (someone); to talk down to (someone).
   “I didn't mean to condescend you, Mr. Shreck.” 2007, Damian Westfall, Bennett's Cow-Eyed Girl
   “I'm not trying to condescend you, Ben.” 2010, Jaron Lee Knuth, Demigod
   THOMAS. … Does my anger deserve your condescension? ANDIE. I wasn't condescending you; I was just asking. THOMAS. No. You said “angry black man.” Like my anger only exists in a stereotype. That's condescending. 2014, Greg Kalleres, Honky, page 31
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To consent, agree.
   Than were they condesended that Kyng Arthure and syr mordred shold mete betwyxte bothe theyr hoostes and eueryche of them shold brynge fourtene persones "Then were they condescended that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should meet betwixt both their hosts, and everych of them should bring fourteen persons" 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur Book XXI, Chapter iv, leaf 423r
   This is the pay I get for condescending to let you go with me. 1868, Horatio Alger, chapter 3, in Struggling Upward
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To come down.