Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
desert (1)
desert (2)
desert (3)
desert boot
desert island
desert pavement
desert pea
desert rat
desert varnish
desertification
desertion
deserve
deservedly
deserving
desex
desexualize
deshabille
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

U.S. English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

descend

descend [ di sénd ] (3rd person present singular descends, present participle descending, past and past participle descended)


verb 
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb go down: to go down a staircase, hill, valley, or other downward incline

2. intransitive verb come nearer ground: to come nearer the ground, especially in an aircraft in preparation for landing

3. intransitive verb slope: to slope downwards

4. transitive and intransitive verb be related: to be connected by blood to an ancestor
be descended from Vikings

5. intransitive verb be inherited: to be inherited from or passed down by parents or ancestors

6. intransitive verb arrive suddenly: to arrive at a place suddenly, especially in large numbers
tourists descending on unspoiled areas

7. intransitive verb become established: to become more evident or established, suddenly or by degrees
An atmosphere of gloom descended on the assembled crowd.

8. intransitive verb lower oneself: to behave in a way that is disappointing and below somebody's usual standards

[14th century. Via French descendre< Latin descendere 'climb down' < scandere 'climb']

descendable adjective
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft