What does condescend mean?
Word: Condescend
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Condescend means to agree to do something while showing that you think it is beneath you. It can also mean to treat someone as less important than you.
Synonyms: deign
How do you spell condescend?
Syllables: con - de - scend
Tricky part: The s and c stand together near the end. Pupils who spell by ear leave one out and write condesend or condecend.
Watch out for: condesend, condecend
Memory tip: A person who condescends seems to descend from a height, and the same sc stays in both words.
Condescend in a sentence
Example 1: The head chef rarely condescends to taste the starters himself.
Example 2: The senior players would not condescend to carry the kit bags.
Example 3: Good teachers never condescend to their youngest pupils.
Fun Fact
Two hundred years ago the word could be praise. In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Mr Collins admires Lady Catherine de Bourgh for her condescension, meaning her kindness to people below her in rank.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
conndescend
a) s
b) c
c) n
d) d
Show answer
c) n. Just one n follows the co.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
The film star would not nsoencddce to sign a single autograph for the crew.
a) consider
b) concede
c) condense
d) condescend
Show answer
d) condescend. Condense and concede are too short for these ten letters, and consider has an i and an r.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word condescend as used in the sentence:
Would the champion condescend to play a friendly match with the juniors?
a) refuse
b) arrange
c) stoop
d) hurry
Show answer
c) stoop. The champion would be lowering himself to play them.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. acknowlege 2. persevere 3. condescend 4. acquiesce
a) to accept that something is true
b) to keep trying in spite of difficulty
c) to accept something without arguing
d) to act as if a task is beneath you
Show answer
a) to accept that something is true. Acknowledge has a d before the g.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A star who condescends to visit a small school most likely feels ____
a) that he should have brought a gift
b) that he has come on the wrong day
c) that he is too grand for the place
d) that the school is too far away
Show answer
c) that he is too grand for the place
2. How would you feel if someone spoke to you in a condescending way?
a) treated as less clever than them
b) asked for your honest opinion
c) thanked for all your hard work
d) invited to join in the fun
Show answer
a) treated as less clever than them
