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descend

verb de·scend \di-ˈsend, dē-\

: to go down : to go or move from a higher to a lower place or level

: to slope or lead downward

: to go or change to a worse state or condition

Full Definition of DESCEND

intransitive verb

: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one <descended from the platform>

: to pass in discussion from what is logically prior or more comprehensive

a : to originate or come from an ancestral stock or source : derive <descends from an old merchant family>

b : to pass by inheritance <a desk that has descended in the family>

c : to pass by transmission <songs descended from old ballads>

: to incline, lead, or extend downward <the road descends to the river>

a : to swoop or pounce down (as in a sudden attack)

b : to appear suddenly and often disconcertingly as if from above <reporters descended on the candidate>

: to proceed in a sequence or gradation from higher to lower or from more remote to nearer or more recent

a : to lower oneself in status or dignity : stoop

b : to worsen and sink in condition or estimation

transitive verb

: to pass, move, or climb down or down along

: to extend down along

— de·scend·ible \-ˈsen-də-bəl\ adjective

See descend defined for English-language learners

See descend defined for kids

Origin of DESCEND

Middle English, from Anglo-French descendre, from Latin descendere, from de- + scandere to climb — more at scan

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to DESCEND

Synonyms: decline, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink

Antonyms: arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn

Rhymes with DESCEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end

DESCEND Defined for Kids

descend

verb de·scend \di-ˈsend\

de·scend·edde·scend·ing

Definition of DESCEND for Kids

: to come or go down from a higher place or level to a lower one <The elevator descended.>

: to move down or down along <Descending the cliff was dangerous.>

: to slope or lead downward <The road descends to the valley.>

: to come down from an earlier time <The custom descends from ancient times.>

: to come down from a source or ancestor : derive <Many words descend from Latin.>

: to be handed down to an heir

: to arrive from or as if from the sky <Locusts descended on the crops.> <Holiday shoppers descended on the mall.>

: to sink in dignity or respectability : stoop <I never thought they would descend to cheating.>

: to sink to a worse condition <The classroom descended into chaos.>

Word Root of DESCEND

The Latin word scandere, meaning “to climb,” gives us the root scend. Words from the Latin scandere have something to do with climbing. To ascend is to climb upward. To descend is to climb downward. To transcend is to rise above or climb over something's limits.

Medical Dictionary

descend

intransitive verb de·scend \di-ˈsend\

Medical Definition of DESCEND

: to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one <normally the testicle descends into the scrotum between the seventh and ninth month in utero—Therapeutic Notes>