disdegnare

Disdegnare is a verb in Italian that means to regard with disdain or to refuse to do something out of a sense of superiority. It conveys contempt or a deliberate lack of respect, and can imply that the speaker or subject considers the addressed matter unworthy of attention. It can be used transitively with a direct object, as in disdegnò l’invito (he scorned the invitation), or with an infinitive phrase, usually introduced by di, as in disdegnò di rispondere (he refused to respond).

Etymology and form: disdegnare is derived from the prefix dis- attached to degnare, related to degno and dignus, rooted in Latin dignus. The prefix intensifies the sense of negation or rejection, yielding a meaning close to “to disdain” or “to not deign.” The verb is part of the Italian -are conjugation pattern and is used in literary, historical, or formal contexts.

Usage and register: Disdegnare is relatively formal and somewhat literary or archaic in modern Italian. It appears in narrative prose, historical texts, or polemical writing, and is less common in everyday speech. It often carries a moral or aesthetic judgment, emphasizing the speaker’s sense of superiority or disappointment.

See also: disdegno, degnare, disprezzare. Related expressions include guardare dall’alto in basso and other terms for contempt or refusal, though disdegnare specifically frames the act as a conscious, disdainful choice.

Examples:

- Disdegnò l’invito.

- Disdegnò di rispondere.