descension

American  

[dih-sen-shuhn] / dɪˈsɛn ʃən /

noun

1. Astrology. the part of the zodiac in which the influence of a planet is weakest.

2. descent.

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Etymology

Origin of descension

1350–1400; Middle English descensioun < Old French descension < Latin dēscēnsiōn- (stem of dēscēnsiō ), equivalent to dēscēns ( us ) (past participle of dēscendere to descend ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Now, after 1,016 yards allowed in just two weeks and fighting on the bench to offer evidence of descension, there’s reason to wonder whether those four straight wins represented real, structural progress.

From Washington Post • Dec. 27, 2021

The irony is of course that I think David Brent’s dark descension and eventual redemption made him all the more compelling.

From Time • Nov. 9, 2011

He will rise, therefore, every now and then, above the level to which he has professedly degraded himself; and make amends for that transgression, by a fresh effort of descension.

From Famous Reviews by Johnson, R. Brimley

Nature—perhaps she was relenting a little, perhaps she saw that humanity was sliding down the scale, withering, and a bit of extra sunshine would serve to check the descension and breed a little optimism.

From The Drums of Jeopardy by MacGrath, Harold

A cicerone appeared, a languid young man in a rather shabby livery, and led me about with a mixture of the impatient and the desultory, of con- descension and humility.

From A Little Tour in France by James, Henry