Middle English Dictionary Entry
condescenden v.
Entry Info
| Forms | condescenden v. Also condiscenden, -ducenden, -decendre. Forms: p. condescende(d; ppl. condescended, -discent. |
| Etymology | L & OF; for meaning cp. also L descendere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of God, a king, master, etc.: to condescend or deign (to do sth.); accede graciously (to a request); make gracious allowance (for human frailty).
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)157/8 : Efterward ich me ssel..paye and condecendre, ine dede and ine speche, ham uor to wynne to god.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6855 : Wherfore, come of an fully condescende..þese wrongis to amende For so þou maist best þe goddis queme.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.36/4 : It plesid therfore the goodnes of god, to condescende to ther peticiouns.
- c1460(?c1435) Lydg.Let.Glo.(Hrl 2255)2 : Riht myhty prynce, and it be your wille, Condescende leiser for to take To seen the content of this litil bille.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)448 : To this deuocioun of Peter, for that it was honest, God condescendid.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)368/18 : Wherfore þe wisdome of god, condescendynge to mannes ignoraunce, þe forseide thinges hath lefte to men oonly forto byleve.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)3.699 (v.1:p.37) : Condescendyng therfore to thyn entent, I breefly wil shew the my sentement.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)9.276 (v.1:p.103) : Mannes freelnesse, yf it stode alwey in rigorous starkenesse and recusid to condescendyn sometyme to the infirmyte of nature, it shuld e the lesse stronge.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)81/8 : Alisaunder pope..condescendinge & enclinyd to þe supplicacions of..þe nobel kinge of Frauns.
- -?-(a1439) Oratory in Archaeol.52310 : Hit mighte like also youre noble grace the rather encline and condescende to the doyng herof.
2.
(a) To give one's consent; consent (to a proposal, etc.); agree (to do sth.); ben ~, agree (to sth.); (b) to come to mutual agreement; agree (to do sth. or that sth. be done); ben condescended, be in agreement, be agreed; (c) to accede (to a request, opinion, etc.); (d) to make a concession, give way; yield (to sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2424 : Now wolde I fayn that ye wolde condescenden in especial and telle me how liketh yow..oure conseillours.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1405 : He gan his tale so by crafte conveie, To make þe kyng to þat he wolde seie Condescende.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2547 : Þat I may fele..To my desire þat ȝe condiscende, I vndirtake to maken a good ende.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5385 : To condiscende to þis conclusioun Withouten any contradiccioun.
- (1426) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.4198 : His subgects the whiche ben condecendid to his desires.
- (1429) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)10.425a : The said Cardinal..Is condescended unto the Contenue of the Articles that followe.
- (1438) Proc.Privy C.5.97 : Yif þat þemperour wol condescende to mariage.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3684 : Whethir the kyng..Wolde condescende..To stynte werre and to cherisshe pes.
b
- (1422) RParl.4.176a : The which Lordis abovesaid ben condescended to take it up on hem in the manere and fourme that sueth.
- (1429) RParl.4.338b : Lordes Spirituell and Temporell..been condescended to write [etc.].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4112 : Thus condescendyng..That which off hem first sauh grettest fliht Off briddes..Sholde name the cite at his owne will.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.1268 : The said brethre wer fulli condescendid Vpon this poynt.
- (1448) Shillingford46 : Atte last we conducended yn this wyse: ij men to be nempted of ayther counseyll [etc.].
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.318 : At the makyng of this bille we were not fully condesended hough we schulde doo.
- (c1465-7) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxxiii : It was condiscended and agreed bytwene the seid Water and John, that [etc.].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)195/4 : The kynges and knyghtes..were condecended for to make two chyfftaynes.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.81 : Hit was condescende at the laste that a temple of concorde scholde be made.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.179 : These men hauenge communicacion amonge theyme..condescende in this wise, that they scholde comme [etc.].
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.379 : They were..Accorded well and clerely condiscent.
c
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[introd.] 75a : He lappeth hym in his frend, that condescendith to the rightful prayeres of his frend.
- (1410) Let.Bugge in Spec.14 (Vsp F.7)24 : Any weyes thorgh whiche..the kynge may be moeued and induced to condescende to the deliverance of the forseid Mordake, his prisoner.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)411 : To thy behest I must of ryght entende, And..to jugement condescende.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2447 : Ye han..enclyned youre herte to the moore part..and there ben ye condescended.
- (1429) RParl.4.343b : Olesse than the resones of that other partie cause hem to condescende forthwith unto hem, the mater shal dwelle in deliberation to the next day of Counseill.
- (1435) Wars France in RS 22.2432 : Than the said ambaxatours shal condescende finaly, that the kyng shal content hym withe that he is possessed of in Fraunce at this day.
- (1449) Let.Hen.VI in Archaeol.40452 : Absteinyng thaym..to condescende and yeve any Jugement or sentence ayenst the partie so absent.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.579 : Knowe now thi makere..On-to his byddynge looke þou condescende.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)168 : The bischop was inflexibil and thei were obdurat..But at the last the bischop condescended to her elde custome.
3.
Misc. uses: (a) to descend, flow down; (b) to proceed (to the crux of a story); (c) to set one's mind (on sb.), decide in favor (of sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.397 : Sappe wol condescende.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.407 : I sholde to the knotte [of my tale] condescende And maken of hir walkyng soone an ende.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Ex.AW (Dgb 181)78 : But to the purpose for to condiscende: Whan she of Sampson knewe the prevyte [etc.].
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1605 : Whan that he on hire was condescended, Hym thoughte his choys myghte nat ben amended.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.4va (Prologue) : Þat I be noȝt made a liȝtede lantern hide vnder a busshel, but þat I condescende vnto þi praiers..I haue gadrede..þis presente werk.
Note: Additional quot., sense 2.(c). Editor's gloss: 'accede (to), grant'.