condescension
/kɑndiˈsɛnʃən/
condescension · noun — the act of condescending; a manner of behaving in an outwardly polite way that nevertheless implies superiority to another; patronizing courtesy toward inferiors. It carries an Arena rating of 1510, earned across 15 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, condescension ranks #787 of 17,207 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #1,586 of 17,176 for Most Incisive Words, #5,212 of 17,171 for Scariest Words, #5,535 of 17,197 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
condescension is pronounced /kɑndiˈsɛnʃən/.
Why “condescension” is a great word
An attitude or behavior that expresses a patronizing sense of superiority toward others. From Late Latin condēscēnsiōn- (stem of condēscēnsiō), from condēscendere, meaning 'to come down, lower oneself, comply.' Unlike deference, which implies respectful submission, or arrogance, which announces superiority without apology, condescension is superiority in masquerade—the deliberate descent from an imagined height to bestow false equality upon the lesser. It is the employer who calls the cleaning staff by first names while never learning how to spell them; the museum docent who explains the obvious slowly, as if to a child; the host who praises your simple cooking with the surprised delight one reserves for a dog performing a trick—a performance of grace that broadcasts only the actor's own elevated stage.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Latin condēscēnsiō.
noun
- The act of condescending; a manner of behaving in an outwardly polite way that nevertheless implies superiority to another; patronizing courtesy toward inferiors.e.g.“Conscious condescension breeds panderers and enemies, not friends.”
- A patronizing attitude or behavior.e.g.“He's a snob of the first water and views the lower orders with infinite condescension.” — 1935, George Cronyn, Fortune and Men's Eyes:
- Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
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