condescension

Etymology
From.

Noun

 * 1) The act of condescending; a manner of behaving in an outwardly polite way that nevertheless implies superiority to another; patronizing courtesy toward inferiors.
 * 2)  A patronizing attitude or behavior.
 * 3)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  A patronizing attitude or behavior.
 * 2)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  A patronizing attitude or behavior.
 * 2)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  A patronizing attitude or behavior.
 * 2)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  A patronizing attitude or behavior.
 * 2)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  A patronizing attitude or behavior.
 * 2)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.
 * 1)  Courtesy, affability of a superior towards an inferior.

Usage notes

 * An already archaic usage that was listed first in dictionaries at the beginning of the 20th century was as a neutral or positive description of friendly socialization with one’s social inferiors. Now that the concept of social inferiority has largely fallen out of currency, so has this non-negative usage. Thus, in Pride and Prejudice, one character can say of another, "I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension.”

Synonyms

 * condescendence

Translations

 * Bulgarian:, ,
 * Esperanto: malaltiĝo
 * Finnish:
 * French:
 * German:, Kondeszendenz
 * Greek: ,
 * Hungarian:
 * Macedonian: снисходливост
 * Portuguese:
 * Romanian:, ,
 * Russian:, , ,
 * Serbo-Croatian:
 * Cyrillic: снисходљивост
 * Roman:
 * Swedish:
 * Turkish:


 * Finnish:
 * Polish: protekcjonalizm,