descendant

[ dih-sen-duhnt ]

noun

1. a person or animal that is descended from a specific ancestor; an offspring.
2. something deriving in appearance, function, or general character from an earlier form.
3. an adherent who follows closely the teachings, methods, practices, etc., of an earlier master, as in art, music, philosophy, etc.; disciple.
4. Astrology.
   1. the point opposite the ascendant.
   2. the point of the ecliptic or the sign and degree of the zodiac setting below the western horizon at the time of a birth or of an event.
   3. the cusp of the seventh house.

adjective

1. descending; descendent.

descendant

¹

/ dɪˈsɛndənt /

noun

1. a person, animal, or plant when described as descended from an individual, race, species, etc
2. something that derives or is descended from an earlier form

adjective

1. a variant spelling of descendent

Descendant

²

/ dɪˈsɛndənt /

noun

1. astrology the point on the ecliptic lying directly opposite the Ascendant

Word History and Origins

Origin of descendant¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English descendaunt (adjective), from Old French descendant “going down,” present participle of descendre “to go down”; equivalent to descend + -ant

Example Sentences

He certainly appeared to have some of the trappings of a descendant of the esteemed bankers, including a classic car collection featuring Ferraris and Jaguars.

From Los Angeles Times

With such a grand name, it could be easy to assume that the man is a descendant of the Habsburg dynasty that ruled Austria from 1282 until 1918.

From Los Angeles Times

The burned-out residence, described by a real estate listing service as an 825-square-foot, two-bedroom property worth about $1 million, seemingly had little of the opulence befitting a descendant of the world’s most powerful bankers.

From Los Angeles Times

The ancient Ndebele interacted with the nomadic San, whose descendants still live in some parts of Zimbabwe and in South Africa.

From Science Magazine

She was mesmerized by the smooth-talking Sonny, who raffishly claimed to be a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte.

From Salon

Related Words

• heir
• offspring
• scion