condescension

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun The act of condescending or an instance of it.
• noun Patronizingly superior behavior or attitude.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun The act of condescending; the act of voluntarily stooping or inclining to an equality with an inferior; a waiving of claims due to one's rank or position; affability on the part of a superior; complaisance.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun The act of condescending; voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in intercourse with an inferior; courtesy toward inferiors.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun The act of condescending; voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in intercourse with an inferior; courtesy toward inferiors. syn.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient
• noun affability to your inferiors and temporary disregard for differences of position or rank
• noun the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior