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   descend

   /dɪˈsɛnd/

   verb

   • 1. move or fall downwards: "the aircraft began to descend" Similar go downcome downdropfallsinksubsidediveplummetplungenosedivepitchtumbleslumpOpposite ascendclimb
   • ▪ (of a mammal's testes) pass from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum.
   • 2. (of a road, path, or flight of steps) slope or lead downwards: "a side road descended into the forest" Similar slopedipslantdeclinego downsinkfall away
   • ▪ move down (a slope or stairs): "the vehicle descended a ramp" Similar climb downgo downcome downmove downpass downwalk downshin downOpposite ascendclimb
   • ▪ move down a scale of quality: "three hotels were granted the prestigious five-star status, whilst others descended in quality or maintained their ranking"
   • ▪ (of sound) become lower in pitch: "the chords descended in spectacular style from the upper register to the lower"
   • ▪ act in a shameful way that is far below one's usual standards: "he was scrupulous in refusing to descend to misrepresentation" Similar condescendstooplower oneselfabase oneselfhumble oneselfdemean oneselfdebase oneselfdeignresortbe reducedgo as far asinformal:come down from one's high horse
   • ▪ (of a situation or group of people) reach (an undesirable state): "the army had descended into chaos" Similar degeneratedeterioratedeclinesinkslidefalldropgo downhilldecayworsenget/grow worsetake a turn for the worsego to rack and ruininformal:go to potgo to the dogsgo to seedhit the skidsgo down the tubesgo down the toiletOpposite improve
   • 3. make a sudden attack on: "the militia descended on Rye"
   • ▪ make an unexpected visit to: "groups of visiting supporters descended on a local pub" Similar come in forcearrive in hordesattackassailassaultstorminvadepounce onraidswoop oncharge
   • ▪ (of a feeling) develop suddenly and affect a place or person: "with her death, a cloud of gloom descended upon Bollywood"
   • ▪ (of night or darkness) begin to occur: "as the winter darkness descended, the fighting ceased"
   • 4. be a blood relative of (a specified ancestor): "John Dalrymple was descended from an ancient Ayrshire family" Similar be a descendant oforiginate fromissue fromspring fromhave as an ancestorderive from
   • ▪ (of an asset) pass by inheritance, typically from parent to child: "his lands descended to his eldest son" Similar be handed downbe passed downpass by hereditybe transferred by inheritancebe inherited byOpposite bequeath to

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, from de- ‘down’ + scandere ‘to climb’.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

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   • D

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDESCEND | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   DESCEND definition: 1. to go or come down: 2. If darkness or night descends, it becomes dark and day changes to night…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › descendDescend Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › descend

   • Cached

   The meaning of DESCEND is to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one. How to use descend in a sentence.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › descendDESCEND Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › descend

   • Cached

   Descend definition: to go or pass from a higher to a lower place; move or come down. See examples of DESCEND used in a sentence.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDESCEND definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   If you descend or if you descend a staircase, you move downwards from a higher to a lower level. [ formal ] Things are cooler and more damp as we descend to the cellar.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDESCEND | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   DESCEND meaning: 1. to go or come down: 2. If darkness or night descends, it becomes dark and day changes to night…. Learn more.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdescend verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of descend verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › descendDescend - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › descend

   In its simplest sense, descend means to go or move downward, but there are a couple of subtle variations on this theme. Yes, a bird can descend from the sky, but also, humans are descended from prehistoric ancestors.