deign

[deyn] /deɪn/
verb (used without object)
1.
to think fit or in accordance with one's dignity; condescend:
He would not deign to discuss the matter with us.
verb (used with object)
2.
to condescend to give or grant:
He deigned no reply.
3.
Obsolete. to condescend to accept.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English deinen < Old French deignier < Latin dignārī to judge worthy, equivalent to dign(us) worthy + -ārī infinitive suffix
Can be confused
deign, dine.
Examples from the web for deign
  • Whom she affects, she wants no mind to deign.
  • The wife of the star pitcher would, very likely, not deign to speak to the wife of the utility shortstop.
  • The new restaurant -- christened Baldoria -- will actually deign to accept them, unlike the old.
  • He doesn't deign to reply.
  • It is a communal meal created from food that would otherwise have been wasted — and that many people might not deign to eat.
  • The promised days to hasten deign.
  • Perhaps with the big winter storm being predicted for the region it will deign to show itself at my suet feeder.
  • However, I do not deign to do something as lowly as print business cards.
  • She always accompanied her husband on the road yet would not deign to spend time sitting around theaters waiting for him.
  • One glance thy kingly eye would deign.
British Dictionary definitions for deign

deign

/deɪn/
verb
1.
(intransitive) to think it fit or worthy of oneself (to do something); condescend: he will not deign to speak to us
2.
(transitive) (archaic) to vouchsafe: he deigned no reply
Word Origin
C13: from Old French deignier, from Latin dignārī to consider worthy, from dignus worthy
Word Origin and History for deign
v.

c.1300, from Old French deignier (Modern French daigner), from Latin dignari "to deem worthy or fit" (source of Italian degnare, Spanish deñar), from dignus "worthy" (see dignity). Sense of "take or accept graciously" led to that of "condescend" (1580s). Related: Deigned; deigning.