Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “condescending” come from?

Condescending derives from Middle English condescenden, from Old French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendo, formed with the Latin prefix con- meaning "with" or "together."

condescending (English): Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing...

Definitions

  1. Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing...

Ancestry of “condescending”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcondescendTo come down from one's superior position; to...
2Middle Englishcondescenden—
3Old Frenchcondescendreto descend; to go down; to assent ; to agree
4Latincondēscendere—
5Latincom-allomorph of con-
6Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “condescending”

  • condescendingly
  • uncondescending
  • uncondescendingly
  • condescendingness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →