Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CONDESCEND, v. With on, upon: to specify, detail (Bnff.2, Abd.19, Lnk.3 1937). The phr. condescend upon particulars made a transitory appearance in Eng. newspapers (see N.E.D.), but has apparently died out again. Sc. 1705 Analecta Sc. (Maidment 1837) II. 27:
There was some method condescended on for his subsistence.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xx.:
“I am not just free to condescend on my name,” said Peter.Sc. 1909 Colville 72:
The judge condescends upon the facts, and issues an interlocutor or decision.Sth. 1746 in C. D. Bentinck Dornoch Cath. and Par. (1926) 290:
Admonish any whom they might find guilty of any immoral practice condemned by the law of God and condescended on in the Act of Parliament.Abd. 1721 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 25:
It is condescendit, endit and finally agried upon.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xx.:
There must be more than a general confession. . . . You must condescend upon the transgression.
Hence (1) condescendence, “in court procedure, that part of a party's written pleadings which contains his allegations of fact, as distinguished from his ‘pleas in law'” (Abd.16); (2) condescension, idem.(1) Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian (1830) v.:
We'll hae nae confessions and condescendences here.Fif. 1938 St Andrews Cit. (5 Feb.) 10/3:
In the condescendence, the claimants averred that the deceased's death was due to the accidental inhalation of chlorine gas.Lnk. 1710 Minutes J.P.s Lnk. (S.H.S. 1931) 93:
With particular Condescendences of what and wherein they have transgresed the same.(2) Sc. 1717 Diary Rev. W. Mitchell in Spalding Club Misc. (1841) 244:
It . . . contained both a condescension on grivances, and several other particulars, which were not in Mr Gustart's copy.
