deign

Deign is a verb meaning to do something that one regards as beneath one's dignity; to condescend to perform a task or favor. It typically implies a reluctant or ceremonious exercise of power or status. The modern usage tends to be formal or literary, and it is often used to convey irony or criticism when someone of higher status performs a minor act.

The word comes from Old French deigner “to vouchsafe, deign,” from Vulgar Latin dignare, from Latin dignus “worthy.” In English, it has been used since the Middle Ages. The standard construction is deign to + infinitive, as in “The sovereign deigned to listen to the petitions.” The present tense forms are deign or deigns (for third person), the past tense is deigned, and the present participle is deigning. The noun form is deigning or deign, though more often the verb is used.

Usage notes: Deign is not a generic synonym for “choose to do something.” It carries the sense that the speaker regards the action as beneath the actor’s status or dignity, and therefore is a judgmental or humorous remark when applied to ordinary circumstances. It is typically reserved for formal prose or historical narration; in secular contemporary writing, “condescend” is the more common, less literary option.

Examples: “The king would not deign to speak with the commoners.” “She did not deign to offer an opinion.”