Are there different definitions for the word condescending?

Question

SOMETIMES PEOPLE USED IT AS TO SPEAK DOWN TO , OR IT IS USED AS BEING LENIENT OR ALLOWING

Answer 1

When people use it as "being lenient or allowing", they're improperly using the word. Otherwise, you're right about "speak down to". Merriam-Webster sums it up best...

1a: to descend to a less formal or dignified level, 1b: to waive the privileges of rank
2: to assume an air of superiority

Answer 2

Condescending is looking down to, patronizing. When it's used as "lenient", it's referring to being treated like a child.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/condescending

con·de·scend·ing ADJECTIVE:

Displaying a patronizingly superior attitude: "The independent investor's desire to play individual stocks may well worry some market veterans, but that smacks a little of Wall Street's usual condescending attitude toward small investors"

http://www.allwords.com/query.php?SearchType=3&Keyword=Condescending&goquery=Find+it!&Language=ENG

condescend
verb, intr condescended, condescending

1. To act in a gracious manner towards those one regards as inferior.
2. To be gracious enough to do something, especially as though it were a favour.

Thesaurus: deign, stoop, descend.

Derivative: condescending

Gracious.
Offensively patronizing.
Thesaurus: superior, haughty, patronizing, imperious, pretentious, supercilious, snobbish, airy; Antonym: humble, approachable.

Answer 3

Condescend
Main Entry: con·de·scend
Pronunciation: "kän-di-'send
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French condescendre, from Late Latin condescendere, from Latin com- + descendere to descend
1 a : to descend to a less formal or dignified level : UNBEND b : to waive the privileges of rank
2 : to assume an air of superiority

Entry Word: condescend
Function: verb
Text: 1 to descend to a level that is beneath one's dignity
Synonyms deign, stoop
Related Words debase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate, lower
Near Antonyms rise
2 to assume or treat with an air of superiority
Synonyms lord (it over), patronize
Related Words cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, snub

Answer 4

snobby: behaving toward other people in a way that shows you consider yourself socially or intellectually superior to them

it only means speaking down to, not being lenient or allowing

Answer 5

to condescend (p.p. condescending)

1. 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. 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. To consent [Obs.]

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

Answer 6

Con - against; descending - going down

against going down means going up - in slang - uppity

Answer 7

Why should I bother to tell a nobody like you ?

Answer 8

only one definition. its when someone thinks ur an idiot and they gotta dumb down their words to you.

Answer 9

i feel it means patronising

Answer 10

rude ,,*****,,azzhole