deigned

Lowered oneself grudgingly

Deigned is the past tense of deign, meaning to condescend or lower oneself to do something considered beneath one's dignity.

The word carries irony or criticism—suggesting the person believes themselves too important for the action: She finally deigned to return my call.

Often used sarcastically: He deigned to grace us with his presence.

bestowal

granted

Given or allowed officially

bestowedGave formally as gift
accordedGave or granted formally
conferredFormally granted or discussed

vouchsafed · favored · permitted · allowed · consented · acknowledged · noticed · recognized · answered · responded

condescension

patronize

Act superior toward

condescendAct superior toward others
snobbishCondescending toward perceived inferiors
superiorityHigher rank or quality

haughty · arrogant · contemptuous · dismissive · supercilious · imperious · aloof · scornful · sneering · pompous

reluctance

unwillingness

Disinclination to act

hesitationDelay from uncertainty
grudginglyWith reluctant compliance
begrudginglyWith unwilling acceptance

reluctantly · disinclination · aversion · reticence · loathness · barely · scarcely · hardly · finally · eventually

Opposites

willingness/condescension

deignedleapt at

Eagerly seized opportunity

volunteered · embraced · welcomed · relished

social positioning

deignedpetitioned

Formally asked for something

supplicated · entreated · groveled · kowtowed · beseeched

Family

deign, deigning, deigns

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G