What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deign
Example
He deigned to speak to me only after I begged him for an audience. [deigned: past tense verb]
Example
She didn't even deign to look at me when I walked into the room. [deign: verb]
descend
Example
The hikers began to descend the mountain after reaching the summit. [descend: verb]
Example
The company's profits have been steadily descending over the past year. [descending: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Descend is more commonly used than deign in everyday language. Descend is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while deign is less common and typically used in formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deign and descend?
Deign is typically associated with a formal and literary tone, while descend is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
