descend

[ dih-send ]
See synonyms for: descenddescendeddescending on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to go or pass from a higher to a lower place; move or come down: to descend from the mountaintop.

  2. to pass from higher to lower in any scale or series.

  1. to go from generals to particulars, as in a discussion.

  2. to slope, tend, or lead downward: The path descends to the pond.

  3. to be inherited or transmitted, as through succeeding generations of a family: The title descends through eldest sons.

  4. to have a specific person or family among one's ancestors (usually followed by from): He is descended from Cromwell.

  5. to be derived from something remote in time, especially through continuous transmission: This festival descends from a druidic rite.

  6. to approach or pounce upon, especially in a greedy or hasty manner (followed byon or upon): Thrill-seekers descended upon the scene of the crime.

  7. to settle, as a cloud or vapor.

  8. to appear or become manifest, as a supernatural being, state of mind, etc.: Jupiter descended to humankind.

  9. to attack, especially with violence and suddenness (usually followed by on or upon): to descend upon enemy soldiers.

  10. to sink or come down from a certain intellectual, moral, or social standard: He would never descend to baseness.

  11. Astronomy. to move toward the horizon, as the sun or a star.

verb (used with object)
  1. to move downward upon or along; go or climb down (stairs, a hill, etc.).

  2. to extend or lead down along: The path descends the hill.

Origin of descend

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English descenden, from Old French descendre, from Latin dēscendere, equivalent to dē-de- + -scendere, combining form of scandere “to climb”; cf. scansion

Other words from descend

  • de·scend·ing·ly, adverb
  • pre·de·scend, verb
  • re·de·scend, verb
  • un·de·scend·ing, adjective

Words Nearby descend

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use descend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for descend

descend

/ (dɪˈsɛnd) /


verb(mainly intr)
  1. (also tr) to move, pass, or go down (a hill, slope, staircase, etc)

  2. (of a hill, slope, or path) to lead or extend down; slope; incline

  1. to move to a lower level, pitch, etc; fall

  2. (often foll by from) to be connected by a blood relationship (to a dead or extinct individual, race, species, etc)

  3. to be passed on by parents or ancestors; be inherited

  4. to sink or come down in morals or behaviour; lower oneself

  5. (often foll by on or upon) to arrive or attack in a sudden or overwhelming way: their relatives descended upon them last week

  6. (of the sun, moon, etc) to move towards the horizon

Origin of descend

1
C13: from Old French descendre, from Latin dēscendere, from de- + scandere to climb; see scan

Derived forms of descend

  • descendable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012