what is the meaning of " condescend"?

Question

I am so confused about the meaning of this verb. it seems to me that there are two opposite meanings.

eg 1) don't condescend to your reader, otherwise your book will not be sold.

2) when he condescended to speak, he made it in a rude way.

What is the meaning of "condescend" in the above context? Thanks alot

Answer 1

1) In that context it means to not patronize the reader, or insult their intellegence



2) In the second it means to reluctantly speak.



Did you make up those sentences yourself? The grammar is poor and barely makes sense.

Answer 2

Verb



Infinitive

to condescend





Third person singular

condescends





Simple past

condescended





Past participle

condescended





Present participle

condescending



to condescend (third-person singular simple present condescends, present participle condescending, simple past and past participle condescended)



1. (intransitive) To disregard superiority when engaging with others



* Can they think me so broken, so debased / With corporal servitude, that my mind ever / Will condescend to such absurd commands? --Milton.

* Spain's mighty monarch, In gracious clemency, does condescend, / On these conditions, to become your friend. --Dryden.



2. (intransitive) To assume a tone of superiority when it is unjustified



* Those who thought they were honoring me by condescending to address a few words to me. --F. W. Robinson.



3. (intransitive, obsolete) To consent.



All parties willingly condescended hereunto. --R. Carew.

Answer 3

to talk down to in an insulting manner implying stupidity