(no subject)

[novapsyche]

This enlarged my understanding of the English language:

To condescend didn't always imply the same sentiment that we do to "lowering oneself". It was considered gracious for a royal, for instance, to condescend to treat a subject as an equal. Since people really did consider those people of higher rank or worth, in this respect lowering themselves to someone's else level was a compliment, not an insult.

However, in our democratic times lowering oneself has of course become pretty much a denigration of the other person's worth.

(found in this thread in wordoftheday)

Comments

[kittenkissies.livejournal.com]

Still sounds like it was denigrating back then. Gracious, my middle ass.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

It's only seen as denigrating to us in this age. The emphasis on the individual and democratic values has almost certainly changed the way we would view condenscension. If we lived in aristocratic times, as a peasant we would feel, I'm sure, elated to be condenscended to. It would be an elevation of status in the peasant's view. The peasant back then was not aware of the individualistic POV that is taken as a given in modern Western society.

[kittenkissies.livejournal.com]

Peasants. hmpf.