Definition of "deign" []

• To think it appropriate to one's dignity; condescend: wouldn't deign to greet the servant who opened the door. See Synonyms at stoop1. (verb-intransitive)
• To condescend to give or grant; vouchsafe. "Nor would we deign him burial of his men” ( Shakespeare). (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Is the word deign used correctly here: Did the guy actually think he would deign that question with a response?"
• "An American Dictionary of the English Language, s.v., "deign," second listing)."
• "It could be that religious believers deign to tolerate other religions purely for self-preservation, calculating that since no single religion has majority status it is best to grant a full measure of liberty to other faiths, to ensure maximum liberty for oneself."