deign

UK /deɪn/ US /deɪn/
verb 4

Definitions

verb

1

To consider it appropriate or worthy to do or give (something), often when it is seen as beneath one's dignity; to condescend, to vouchsafe.

Nor vvould vve deigne him buriall of his men, / Till he diſburſed, at Saint Colmes ynch, / Ten thouſand Dollars, to our generall vſe.

[T]hough this my vvorke, ovvne not vvorth enough to deſerve your patronage, yet ſuch is your benigne humanity, that I am confident you vvill daigne it your protection, under vvhich it vvillingly ſhrovvdes it ſelfe.

2

To consider it appropriate or worthy to accept or take (something).

Shee deignes not my good will, but doth reprove / And of my rurall muſick holdeth ſcorne.

Go, go, be gone, to ſaue your Ship from vvrack, / VVhich cannot periſh hauing thee aboarde, / Being deſtin’d to a drier death on ſhore: / I muſt goe ſend ſome better Meſſenger, / I fear my Iulia vvould not daigne my lines, / Receiuing them from ſuch a vvorthleſſe poſt.

3

Often followed by of: to consider (someone) as worthy of something; to dignify.

VVill you not daigne his Majeſty vvith an Anſvver?

4

To consider it appropriate or worthy to do something, often when it is seen as beneath one's dignity; to condescend, to think fit, to vouchsafe.

He didn’t even deign to give us a nod of the head; he thought us that far beneath him.

For Edvvard vvill defeind the Tovvne, and thee, / And all thoſe friends, that deine to follovv mee.

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