descend

—descendingly, adv.

/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. Astron. 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.

[1250-1300; ME descenden < OF descendre < L descendere, equiv. to de- DE- + -scendere, comb. form of scandere to climb; cf. SCANSION]

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