what does condescending mean I hear this on music videos and in tv series but what does it mean I looked it up in the dictionary but I don't understand what the def is can someone help me understand this. Thank you Rhayden
Yup. To me it's talking DOWN to someone to make them feel like they aren't as good as you are. Most people do it to feel better about themselves by making someone else feel like crap about themselves.
No sir ... Let's say you own a company and there is a head table for all yhe management .... if you decided to sit with your regular staff, you would have condescended by not taking your position at the head table .... Jesus condescended when He came from Heaven and was born as a man ....
Here are a few Bible verses for you ... Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich"—2 Corinthians 8:9. condescend CONDESCEND, v.i. [L. See Descend.] 1. To descend from the privileges of superior rank or dignity, to do some act to an inferior, which strict justice or the ordinary rules of civility do not require. Hence, to submit or yield, as to an inferior, implying an occasional relinquishment of distinction. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Romans 12. 2. To recede from ones rights in negotiation, or common intercourse, to do some act, which strict justice does not require. Spains mighty monarch, in gracious clemency does condescend, on these conditions, to become your friend. 3. To stoop or descend; to yield; to submit; implying a relinquishment of rank, or dignity of character, and sometimes a sinking into debasement.
Words' meanings change through time, as the gap between denotation and connotation widens. Originally, condescend meant simply to come down, and in the sense provided by posts above, it can mean for someone of higher rank or esteem to talk to the "lower masses." Biblical verses were written during a time when societal ranks were believed to be divinely set, inevitable and unchangeable. In that sense, from the perspective of the person "coming down" to speak to the masses, condescending was seen as a virtue -- "Oh, thank you, kind sir, for honoring me by acknowledging that I am alive and worthy of your words!" But another perspective is that of a member of the masses being spoken to. When such a person feels "he spoke to me in a condescending manner" it implies that the speaker perceived himself to be somehow "above" the person to whom he spoke, and as societies evolved toward embracing one another as equals, the idea of it being a "good" or "charitable thing" to step down to talk to someone "lower" has shifted to something along the lines of "who do you think you are for feeling you're better than I am, stepping off your pedestal to talk to me that way?"
The two basic meanings of condescending are akin to saying the glass is half empty or the glass is half full. The word's basic definition has not changed meaning basically higher to lower communication, but man's perception of it's intent has change from the point of view of the receiver based on their emotional state at the time. If I use the word in an uplifting way as if it has a positive meaning as Tonysorrento pointed out it means I take it as helpful although it is from higher to lower and if I perceived it as a admonition it is good. Now if I perceive it as holier than though I am taking it as a negative where I become defensive than it will fit the description that Aquaeyes suggested. Originally it had one meaning but it has been distorted by modern tradition to mean "putting someone down" which was not it's original intent. Hope this helps con·de·scend [kon-duh-send] Show IPA verb (used without object) 1. to behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity. 2. to stoop or deign to do something: He would not condescend to misrepresent the facts. 3. to put aside one's dignity or superiority voluntarily and assume equality with one regarded as inferior: He condescended to their intellectual level in order to be understood. 4. Obsolete . a. to yield. b. to assent.
If someone calls you "condescending".. it basically means they think you are "talking down" to them... Maybe treating them like they are stupid and you know everything..,... or maybe you think that you are "better" then them..acting arrogant..
