condescension

plural condescensions

1. uncountableusuallyThe act of condescending; a manner of behaving in an outwardly polite way that nevertheless implies superiority to another; patronizing courtesy toward inferiors.

   Conscious condescension breeds panderers and enemies, not friends.

   5 more examples

   Mrs. Howard's fête at Marble Hill more than realised all expectations. The very spring put itself forward to please her; or, rather borrowed a day from summer. The king and queen were in the last extremities of royal condescension. It was enough to make domestic felicity the fashion from one end of the British empire to the other, just to see the august couple walking arm in arm through the gardens;...

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 27–28

   There comes an end to all things; the most capacious measure is filled at last; and this brief condescension to my evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul. And yet I was not alarmed; the fall seemed natural, like a return to the old days before I had made my discovery.

   1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, pages 130–131

   "Unfortunate situation," she replied, making an effort to moderate her superciliousness to mere condescension."

   1911, Robert Ames Bennet, Out of the Primitive

   "Huh?" he said. "Pardon me, my dear sir," repeated the Major, blandly, smoothly, and with an air of – well, not condescension, but gracious familiarity.

   1912, Joseph Crosby Lincoln, The Depot Master

   The shofer opens the door of the after cockpit of the machine, and the man gets out fust, treadin' gingerly but grand, as if he was doin' the ground a condescension by steppin' on it.

   1912, Joseph Crosby Lincoln, The Depot Master

   Synonyms: condescendence

2. derogatoryuncountableusuallyA patronizing attitude or behavior.First known use 1930s

   He's a snob of the first water and views the lower orders with infinite condescension.

   1935, George Cronyn, Fortune and Men's Eyes

   5 more examples

   Tommy rarely entered the top social stratum where Tyckman moved by right of wealth and ancestry, but he had found the man pleasant and without condescension.

   1937, Percy Marks, And Points Beyond

   Jabez rides through the fields on his sleek new horse, watching his neighbors harvest his crops. He shows a certain condescension toward them which is akin to arrogance.

   1941, Stephen Vincent Benet, The Devil and Daniel Webster

   He was self-conscious about the brace and wore a jacket even on the hottest days. It held him abnormally erect. His face was tight from the discomfort and frustration. His posture was mistaken for a sign of arrogance, his expression for disdain and condescension.

   1954, Chester Himes, Third Generation

   What if the signals are confused and both the doctrines of respect for and condescension towards other moralities is preached?

   1984, I.C. Jarvie, Rationality and Relativism

   The greatest indignity of all, it generally turned out, was the chuckling condescension of her husband Ricky, played by her real-life husband and business partner Desi Arnaz. The confident king of the castle, he was always ready to teach Lucy a lesson.

   1989, William A. Henry III, “A Zany Redheaded Everywoman”, in Time, number 1989/12/08

   Synonyms: patronage

3. archaicuncountableusuallynon-derogatoryCourtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.