Word: descend Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English descenden (“to move downwards, fall, descend; to slope downwards; to go from a better to a worse condition, decline, degenerate; to be a descendant, derive from (a source); etc.”), from Anglo-Norman descendere, descendre, and Old French descendere, descendre (“to move downwards, fall, descend; to slope downwards; to be a descendant, derive from (a source); etc.”) (modern French descendre), and from their etymon Latin dēscendere, the present active infinitive of dēscendō (“to come or go down, fall, descend; to slope downwards; to be a descendant; etc.”), from de- (prefix meaning ‘from; down from’) + scandō (“to ascend, climb; to clamber”) (from Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to climb, scale; to dart; to jump”)). The noun is derived from the verb. Pronunciation: /dɪˈsɛnd/, /dəˈsɛnd/, /diˈsɛnd/ 1. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: transitive Example: they descended the river in boats Example: to descend a ladder 2. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: transitive Example: They took the steep path that descends the hill down to the beach. Example: Soon after Crowhurst, the down grade steepens to 1 in 100 as the line descends the side of a valley, at the mouth of which a glimpse of the sea can be caught—the only one. 3. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: [T]he common Devv exhaled from ſome ſorts of Herbs or VVeeds, but eſpecially from the common Graſs, carries vvith it the Seminal Tincture of the Herb, vvhich being again deſcended by Devvs or Rain upon the bare and naked Earth, re-produceth the ſame Species: […] 4. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: intransitive Example: And there is another watergang, called Haile Fayers watergang, 4 miles long and 16 feet broad, which descendeth by a spoye of stone at Hofkirk bridge into the said great river, which must always be cast at the tenants' cost. Example: They leade theyr life in pleaſure, & at a poppe, down they deſcende into hell. 5. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: intransitive 6. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: intransitive Example: [T]he ſetting Sun / Slowly deſcended, and with right aſpect / Againſt the eaſtern Gate of Paradiſe / Leveld his eevning Rayes: […] Example: The moon had reached her summit in the heavens and was beginning to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the scene of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves that were beginning to rise. 7. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: intransitive Example: Cryptorchidism is the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum. 8. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: intransitive, obsolete 9. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: intransitive Example: Novv paſs'd the rugged road, they journey dovvn / The cavern'd vvay deſcending to the tovvn, […] 10. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: historical, intransitive Example: Their ſails they loos'd, they laſh'd the maſt aſide, / And caſt their anchors, and the cables ty'd: / Then on the breezy ſhore deſcending, join / In grateful banquet o'er the roſy vvine. Example: About ten o'clock a horse and wagon was descried making a slow approach to the camp over the prairie. […] When the conveyance at length drew up to Mr. Thompson's door, the gentleman descended with great deliberation, straightened himself up, rubbed his hands, and beaming satisfaction from every part of his radiant frame, advanced to the group that was gathered to welcome him, and which had saluted him by name as soon as he came within hearing. 11. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: […] VVinter comes on ſoftly, firſt by colde devves, then hoare froſts, vntill at laſt it deſcende to the hardeſt vveather of all: […] Example: Thy glories novv have touch'd the higheſt point, / And muſt deſcend. 12. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: Death dvvels vvithin vs, and if gentle Peace / Diſcend not ſoone, our ſorrovves to ſurceaſe, / Latium (alreadie quaild) vvill be deſtroyd. Example: Hear, Goddeſs, hear, by thoſe oblations vvon; / And for the pious fire preſerve the ſon: / His vviſh'd return vvith happy povv'r befriend, / And on the Suitors let thy vvrath deſcend. 13. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: But this ſubject begins to ſvvell beyond the bounds intended unto it, leſt therefore vvhat vve intended but a Tract ſhould ſvvell to a Tome, vve vvill here deſcend to matters of later date. Example: He imagined that he had novv purchaſed the privilege of diſcourſe and began to deſcend to familiar queſtions, endeavouring to accommodate his diſcourſe to the groſſneſs of ruſtick underſtandings. 14. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: The meeting descended into chaos. 15. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: When moving down against [him] thou descendest against the sleeping man unknowing, let Varuṇa cover me with a golden armor. Example: I suffer at times from damp snivelling colds in the head, which descend upon me quite suddenly, turning me into a helpless and disgusting red-nosed and red-eyed animal feebly crying for still more handkerchiefs. 16. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: My neighbour descended upon me just as I was walking out the door. 17. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: He descended from his high estate. Example: [I]f (as ſeldome) he deſcend to diſports of chance, his games ſhall neuer make him either pale vvith feare, or hote vvith deſire of gaine. 18. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive, poetic Example: VVhen I deſcend into my ſelf, and contemplat my moſt terrible horrible terribility, I can hardly hold my ſelf vvithin my ſelf; […] Example: [He] vvith holieſt Meditations fed, / Into himſelf deſcended, and at once / All his great vvork to come before him ſet; […] 19. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: Indefinite numbers I ſuppoſe to be intermediate Numbers lying betvveen finite and infinite: For as vve do not deſcend from 1 to 0 at one Step, but muſt paſs through an infinite Series of Fractions, ½, ⅓, ¼, ¹⁄₅, &c. 20. Senses relating to moving from a higher to a lower position. Labels: figuratively, intransitive 21. Senses relating to passing down from a source to another thing. Labels: obsolete, rare, transitive 22. Senses relating to passing down from a source to another thing. Labels: intransitive Example: [T]he eternal Mark of having had a vvicked Anceſtor deſcends to his Poſterity; his VVife is deprived of her Dovvry, and all his Deſcendants are made ignoble: […] 23. Senses relating to passing down from a source to another thing. Labels: intransitive Example: The beggar may descend from a prince. Example: The Rebels are in Southvvarke: Fly my Lord: / Iacke Cade proclaimes himſelfe Lord Mortimer, / Deſcended from the Duke of Clarence houſe, / And calles your Grace Vſurper, openly, / And vovves to Crovvne himſelfe in VVeſtminſter. 24. Senses relating to passing down from a source to another thing. Labels: intransitive Example: The crown descends to the heir of the previous monarch. Example: [I]f the Tenant giue a part of the Tenancie to the father of the Lord in Taile, the father dieth, and this deſcends to the Lord, in this caſe by Act in Law the Seigniorie is ſuſpended in part and in eſſe for part, and the ſame Law is of a Rent charge.