deign
Lower oneself unwillingly
To deign is to do something you consider beneath your dignity, usually with an air of condescension: She finally deigned to return my calls.
The word carries a note of reluctance or superiority—when you deign to do something, you're lowering yourself to do it.
Often used sarcastically: Will you deign to join us for dinner?
Act superior toward
- stoopSmall entry porch
- lowerReduce or move downward
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- superiorityHigher rank or quality
snobbish · arrogant · dismissive · supercilious · imperious · lordly · overbearing · contemptuous
Bestow or award money
- allowGrant permission for
- permitOfficial written authorization
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
vouchsafe · bestow · favor · indulge · accord · yield · sanction · authorize
Opposed to participating
- reluctantUnwilling to act
- hesitantSlow to act
- begrudgingReluctantly allowing or giving
- loathStrongly reluctant
disinclined · averse · grudging · demur · reticent · resistant · wary · ambivalent
patronize
Act superior toward
superiority · snobbish · arrogant · dismissive · supercilious · imperious · lordly · overbearing · contemptuous · scornful
grant
Bestow or award money
concede · vouchsafe · bestow · favor · indulge · accord · yield · sanction · authorize · boon
unwilling
Opposed to participating
- reluctantUnwilling to act
- hesitantSlow to act
- begrudgingReluctantly allowing or giving
loath · disinclined · averse · grudging · demur · reticent · resistant · wary · ambivalent · yielding