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descend definition

de·scend (dē send′, di-)

intransitive verb

  1. to move from a higher to a lower place; come down or go down
  2. to pass from an earlier to a later time, from greater to less, from general to particular, etc.
  3. to slope or extend downward
  4. to come down (from a source, as from an ancestor): usually with auxiliary be he is descended from pioneers
  5. to pass by inheritance or heredity the estate descended to the nephew
  6. to lower oneself or stoop (to some act)
  7. to make a sudden attack, raid, or visit (on or upon)
  8. Astron. to move toward the horizon
  9. Music to move down the scale

Etymology: ME descenden < OFr descendre < L descendere, to climb down, fall < de-, down + scandere, to climb < ? IE base *skend-, *skand-, to leap > Gr skandalon (> scandal), Sans Skandati, (he) leaps

transitive verb

to move, step, or pass down or down along

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

descend Synonyms

descend

v.

  1. To move lower

    come down, go down, slide, settle, drop, stoop, gravitate, slip, dismount, fall, topple, plunge, dive, plummet, sink, dip, pass downward, pitch, slope, decline, alight, light, disembark, detrain, deplane, tumble, move downward, come down on, slump, trip, stumble, flutter down, submerge, penetrate, step down, climb down, get down, swoop down, step off, climb off, get off, swoop, precipitate, plump*, plop (down)*; see also dive, drop 1, fall.

    Antonyms climb*, ascend*, mount. *

  2. To descend figuratively

    decline, deteriorate, degenerate; see decrease 1.

  3. To lower oneself

    stoop, sink, humble oneself; see condescend.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

descend Usage Examples

Object

  • stair: A newly wed couple emerges, descends some stairs.

Preposition: on

  • la: Will launch the hold 'em event at descended on las.

Preposition: into

  • farce: It's very sad that a fan club has descended into a bizarre farce due to the actions of a few people.

Modifying Another Word

  • steeply: Turn right at a waymarked junction on a footpath which descends steeply to the River Severn.

Preposition: from

  • ancestor: The motto expressed Darwin's belief that all life was descended from a single ancestor.

Preposition: by

  • parachute: This typical wartime Secret Memorandum was intended to safeguard allied airmen descending by parachute over Fife.
descend usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"descend." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/descend>

APA Style

descend. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/descend

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