Deign (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Deigned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deigning.] [OE. deinen, deignen, OF.
degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr.
L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy;
akin to decere to be fitting. See Decent, and cf.
Dainty, Dignity, Condign, Disdain.]
1. To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; -
- opposed to disdain. [Obs.]
I fear my Julia would not deign my
lines.
Shak.
2. To condescend to give or bestow; to stoop
to furnish; to vouchsafe; to allow; to grant.
Nor would we deign him burial of his
men.
Shak.
Deign, v. i. To think worthy; to
vouchsafe; to condescend; - - followed by an infinitive.
O deign to visit our forsaken
seats.
Pope.
Yet not Lord Cranstone deigned she
greet.
Sir W. Scott.
Round turned he, as not deigning
Those craven ranks to see.
Macaulay.
In early English deign was often used impersonally.
Him deyneth not to set his foot to
ground.
Chaucer.
