descend

UK: /dɪˈsɛnd/ US: /dɪˈsɛnd/ ,(di send′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•scend /dɪˈsɛnd/   v. 

1. to go from a higher to a lower place, level, or series: [no obj]:
   The elevator descended rapidly to the bottom floor.
   [ ~ + obj]:
   She slowly descended the stairs.
2. [no obj] to slope, tend, or lead downward:
   The path descends to the pond.
3. [ ~ + from + obj] to be derived from something in the past:
   This festival descends from a rite of my ancestors.
4. [ ~ + on/upon + obj] to attack or approach as if attacking:
   Thrill-seekers descended upon the scene of the crime.
5. [ ~ + on + obj] to fall or settle down on people, as or as if a cloud:
   Silence descended on the audience.
6. [ ~ + to + obj] to come down from a certain standard or level of behavior;
   stoop:
   You must never descend to such bickering.

See -scend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•scend  (di send′), v.i. 

1. to go or pass from a higher to a lower place;
   move or come down:
   to descend from the mountaintop.
2. to pass from higher to lower in any scale or series.
3. to go from generals to particulars, as in a discussion.
4. to slope, tend, or lead downward:
   The path descends to the pond.
5. to be inherited or transmitted, as through succeeding generations of a family:
   The title descends through eldest sons.
6. to have a specific person or family among one's ancestors (usually fol. by from):
   He is descended from Cromwell.
7. to be derived from something remote in time, esp. through continuous transmission:
   This festival descends from a druidic rite.
8. to approach or pounce upon, esp. in a greedy or hasty manner (fol. by on or upon):
   Thrill-seekers descended upon the scene of the crime.
9. to settle, as a cloud or vapor.
10. to appear or become manifest, as a supernatural being, state of mind, etc.:
    Jupiter descended to humankind.
11. to attack, esp. with violence and suddenness (usually fol. by on or upon):
    to descend upon enemy soldiers.
12. to sink or come down from a certain intellectual, moral, or social standard:
    He would never descend to baseness.
13. Astronomy to move toward the horizon, as the sun or a star.

v.t. 

14. to move downward upon or along;
    go or climb down (stairs, a hill, etc.).
15. to extend or lead down along:
    The path descends the hill.

• Latin dēscendere, equivalent. to dē- de- + -scendere, combining form of scandere to climb; compare scansion
• Old French descendre
• Middle English descenden 1250–1300

de•scend′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

descend / dɪˈsɛnd/ verb (mainly intr)

1. (also tr) to move, pass, or go down (a hill, slope, staircase, etc)
2. (of a hill, slope, or path) to lead or extend down; slope; incline
3. to move to a lower level, pitch, etc; fall
4. (often followed by from) to be connected by a blood relationship (to a dead or extinct individual, race, species, etc)
5. to be passed on by parents or ancestors; be inherited
6. to sink or come down in morals or behaviour; lower oneself
7. often followed by on or upon: to arrive or attack in a sudden or overwhelming way
8. (of the sun, moon, etc) to move towards the horizon

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French descendre, from Latin dēscendere, from de- + scandere to climb; see scan

desˈcendable adjective