Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Deign \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 \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.

   Note: In early English deign was often used impersonally.

               Him deyneth not to set his foot to ground.
                                                  --Chaucer.

Source : WordNet®

deign
     v : do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
         [syn: {condescend}, {descend}]