Also -ance. [a. F. condescendance (= It. condescendenza, Sp. condescendencia), f. L. type *condēscendentia, f. pr. pple. of condēscendĕre; see above and -ANCE, -ENCE.]
1. Condescension; complaisance; compliance, concession.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., Pref. § 29. With more rigor, and lesse indulgence and condescendence to the desires of flesh and blood.
1675. R. Barclay, Apol. Quakers, vii. § 8. 223. We must, in condescendence to some, use this word.
1700. Phil. Trans., XXII. 461. This resolution does not proceed from any condescendence to the Roman Catholics.
1791. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 277. The offer … was an unusual condescendence.
1868. E. S. Ffoulkes, Ch. Creed or Crown’s Cr., 41. The Alexandrine fathers, A.D. 362, under S. Athanasius, probably went greater lengths in condescendence than any Council before or since.
2. Sc. A specification of particulars.
In Scots law, an articulate statement, on the part of the pursuer, of the grounds of action, which, with the answers of the defender admitting or denying these, and a note of pleas in law for both parties, is annexed to a summons, and forms a part of it.
1663. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1792), I. 84 (Jam.). As by the particular condescendence contained in their imprinted protestations at large does appear.
1754. Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 294. The party … was … allowed to condescend who the witnesses were; which condescendence, etc.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., v. I’ll take a day to see and answer every article of your condescendence.
‘Open Record’ (in an Action in the Court of Session), 1888. Contents: i. Summons; ii. Condescendence for Pursuer, and Answers thereto for Defender; iii. Pleas in Law for Pursuer; iv. Pleas in Law for Defender; v. Interlocutors.
