Deign
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eɪn
- Homophones: Dane
Origin
From Middle English deignen, from Old French deignier ("consider worthy"), from Latin dignÄrÄ«, present active infinitive of digno ("consider worthy"), from dignus ("worthy"). Cognate to dignity.
Full definition of deign
Verb
- (intransitive) To condescend; to accept as appropriate to one's dignity.He didn't even deign to give us a nod of the head; he thought us that far beneath him.
- (transitive) To condescend to give; to do something.
- William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act I scene II:Nor would we deign him burial of his men.
- 1871, Charlotte Mary Yonge, Heartsease, Or, The Brother's Wife (volume 2, page 189)He, who usually hardly deigned a glance at his infants, now lay gazing with inexpressible softness and sadness at the little sleeping face...
- (obsolete) To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice.
- 1598?', William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, scene I, line 162-3I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,receiving them from such a worthless post.