different between complaisant vs condescending

English

Etymology

From French complaisant (“willing to please”), from complaire, from Latin complac?re, present active infinitive of complace? (“please well”), from com- (“with”) + place? (“please”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/
• Homophone: complacent
• (US) IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/, /k?m?ple?z?nt/

Adjective

complaisant (comparative more complaisant, superlative most complaisant)

1. Compliant.
2. Willing to do what pleases others; obliging.
3. (archaic) Polite; showing respect.

Usage notes

• Complaisant should not be confused with its homophone, complacent.

Derived terms

• complaisantly

Related terms

• complaisance

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??.pl?.z??/

Verb

complaisant

1. present participle of complaire

Adjective

complaisant (feminine singular complaisante, masculine plural complaisants, feminine plural complaisantes)

1. complaisant, obliging, eager to please

Derived terms

• mari complaisant

Further reading

• “complaisant” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?n.d?.s?nd.??/, /?k?n?di.s?nd.??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?k?nd??s?nd??/

Adjective

condescending (comparative more condescending, superlative most condescending)

1. Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.

Synonyms

• (assuming a tone of superiority): patronizing

Derived terms

• condescendingly

Related terms

• condescendence
• condescension

Translations

Verb

condescending

1. present participle of condescend