condescension

== English == === Etymology === From Latin condēscēnsiō. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /kɑndiˈsɛnʃən/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kɒndiˈsɛnʃən/ Rhymes: -ɛnʃən Hyphenation: con‧de‧scen‧sion === Noun === condescension (usually uncountable, plural condescensions) The act of condescending; a manner of behaving in an outwardly polite way that nevertheless implies superiority to another; patronizing courtesy toward inferiors. (usually uncountable, derogatory) A patronizing attitude or behavior. [from 1930s] (archaic, non-derogatory) Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior. ==== Usage notes ==== An already archaic usage that was listed first in dictionaries at the beginning of the 20th century was as a neutral or positive description of friendly socialization with one’s social inferiors. Now that the concept of social inferiority has largely fallen out of currency, so has this non-negative usage. Thus, in Pride and Prejudice, one character can say of another, "I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension.” ==== Synonyms ==== (the act of condescending): condescendence ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== condescend condescending (adjective) ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “condescension”, in The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia: […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “condescension”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.