Deign

To do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity; to condescend to do something. It often implies a reluctant or haughty agreement to a request or action, suggesting the person performing the action believes they are superior and are lowering themselves to meet the demands or expectations of another. The act implies a degree of formality, distance, and potentially a sense of entitlement. The word can also be used in a humorous or ironic context, implying that the person is not truly above the requested action. The word's origins trace back to the Latin 'dēgnāre', meaning 'to think worthy'.

Deign meaning with examples

• The queen, known for her aloof demeanor, finally deigned to acknowledge the commoners during the festival, waving from her carriage with a slight, almost imperceptible smile. The people rejoiced at her acknowledgement, feeling it a great privilege. Despite the cheers, most knew that she was simply completing the public ceremony. The lack of an added greeting confirmed her disdain and that the queen was not fond of the event.
• After hours of pleading, the notoriously grumpy chef, known for his culinary genius, reluctantly deigned to share his secret sauce recipe with the apprentice, but only after making him promise to never reveal it to anyone. The apprentice thought it a great feat; knowing his skills would improve his cooking and was excited to begin. The chef wanted no one to match or surpass his greatness.
• The esteemed professor, typically inaccessible to students, finally deigned to accept the invitation to attend the end-of-year student party, surprising everyone. The student felt like their invitation was demeaning and that the Professor only went to the event because he was made to by his superiors. His presence was very awkward, and his early departure showed his discomfort and disapproval for such an event.
• The technology company, initially resistant to supporting a legacy system, eventually deigned to release a patch, only after facing significant user backlash and threatened boycotts. The company was forced to show consideration to its customers to prevent losses. Their late involvement was the only action to be performed to keep their customers.
• The wealthy socialite, accustomed to exclusive events, deigned to attend the charity auction, although she was very vocal about the lack of perceived status. Her actions were for the public eye and showed a clear disdain for the event, not for the cause. Her presence, even if unwilling, brought a great deal of attention to the charity, and it thanked her for the generosity.