condescend
condescend は英検1級レベルの英単語で、「見下す」という意味があります。発音記号は /ˌkɑːndɪˈsɛnd/ です。
見下す
解説 Definition
見下す、または上から物を言う態度をとる。誰かに対して不当に優越感を示す。
Condescend means to speak or behave toward someone as if you are better, smarter, or more important than they are. It is usually used in a negative way in social or workplace situations. The word can also have an older meaning of doing something you think is beneath you, but that use is less common today.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
descend「下がる」を知っていればつかみやすい語。con- が付いても基本イメージは down のままで、「相手の高さまで降りて話すふりをしつつ、実は上から目線」が condescend。親切そうでも対等感がないのがポイントで、condescending tone / smile の形で見かけたら要注意。単なる rude よりも、やさしそうな言い方に優越感が混じる感じ。talk down to someone にかなり近く、humble とは逆方向の語として覚えると定着しやすい。
Focus on `descend`, which means "go down." In `condescend`, the image is of someone "coming down" to speak to another person, but with a feeling of being above them. That is why it connects well with phrases like `a condescending tone` and with the simpler expression `talk down to someone`.
例文
She would often condescend to her younger siblings with patronizing remarks.
彼女はしばしば見下した発言で妹たちに接していました。
He doesn't condescend to people despite his wealth and status.
彼は富と地位にもかかわらず人々を見下しません。
The manager's tendency to condescend created tension in the office.
マネージャーの見下す傾向はオフィスに緊張を生み出しました。
condescend の類義語・関連語
condescend の語源・成り立ち Etymology
condescend はラテン語 con-「共に」+ descendere「降りる」由来で、古フランス語を経て英語に入った語です。もとは『相手の所まで降りる』ですが、恩着せがましく身を低くする含みから『見下して接する』へ傾きました。descend や descendant も同根です。
Condescend comes from Latin condescendere, from con- and descendere, "to descend" or "go down," and entered English through French. It originally had the idea of coming down to another person's level. Over time, this often gained a negative feeling of acting as if one is above others while pretending to lower oneself. Related words include descend and descendant.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
英検1級の一覧へ →外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう