Descend Definition

dĭ-sĕnd

descended, descending, descends

verb

descended, descending, descends

To move from a higher to a lower place; come down or go down.

Webster's New World

To pass from an earlier to a later time, from greater to less, from general to particular, etc.

Webster's New World

To slope or extend downward.

Webster's New World

To be related by genetic descent from an individual or individuals in a previous generation.

He descends from Norwegian immigrants.

American Heritage

To come down (from a source, as from an ancestor)

He is descended from pioneers.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

idiom

be descended from

To be related to (an ancestor) by genetic descent from an individual or individuals in a previous generation:
She claims to be descended from European royalty.

American Heritage

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Descend

From Middle English decenden, from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, past participle descensus (“to come down, go down, fall, sink”), from de- (“down”) + scandere (“to climb”). See scan, scandent. Compare ascend, condescend, transcend.

From Wiktionary
Middle English descenden from Old French descendre from Latin dēscendere dē- de- scandere to climb skand- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition