Which word means 'to condescend'?

• A. Amiable
• B. Peevish
• C. Deign
• D. Scornful

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is finding a verb that captures the act of lowering oneself to do something considered beneath one’s dignity. Deign is the word that fits this sense precisely. It means to condescend to do something, often implying that the speaker recognizes the act is beneath them but does it anyway, typically in a formal context—think “deign to answer,” “deign to speak.” That subtle nuance of lowering oneself is what makes it the best choice for “to condescend.”

The other words describe different ideas: amiable means friendly and pleasant, peevish means irritable, and scornful means expressing contempt. They don’t convey the act of lowering oneself to perform a task, so they don’t match the meaning of condescend.