Definition

1. Verb:
   • To move or go downward from a higher to a lower place or level: The primary meaning, indicating physical movement down.
   • To have a specific origin or ancestry; to be derived from: Used to indicate lineage or origin.
   • To lower oneself in dignity or behave in an unbecoming manner: To act in a way considered beneath one's standards or status.
   • To arrive or attack in a sudden or overwhelming manner: To come upon something or someone, often with force or in large numbers.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Move downward):
  • The airplane began to descend for landing.
  • We watched the climber descend the mountain carefully.
• Verb (Originate from):
  • According to legend, the kings descend from a god.
  • This tradition descends from ancient customs.
• Verb (Lower oneself):
  • He would not descend to using such cheap tactics in the debate.
• Verb (Arrive suddenly):
  • Silence descended upon the room when he entered.
  • Reporters descended on the scene minutes after the news broke.

Advanced Usage

• "to descend into": to gradually get into a worse state or condition.
  • The political debate descended into a series of personal insults.
  • The city descended into chaos after the announcement.
• "to descend on/upon": to visit someone or arrive at a place, often in large numbers or unexpectedly.
  • Tourists descend upon the small town every summer.
• "to be descended from": to be related to someone who lived a long time ago.
  • She claims to be descended from European royalty.

Variants and Related Words

• Descendant (n): a person, plant, or animal that is descended from a particular ancestor.
  • He is a direct descendant of the famous poet.
• Descent (n): an act of moving downward, dropping, or falling; origin or background.
  • The plane began its descent.
  • She is of Italian descent.
• Descending (adj): moving or sloping downward.
  • The numbers are listed in descending order from largest to smallest.

Synonyms

• Go down: to move to a lower place or level.
• Fall: to move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control.
• Originate: to have a specified beginning.
• Stoop: to lower one's moral standards so far as to do something reprehensible.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Descend from: to originate from an ancestor or source.
  • This breed of dog descends from wolves.
• Descend to: to lower oneself to a particular (often negative) action or level.
  • I never thought he would descend to stealing.

Related Idioms

• Descend from grace: to fall from a position of high respect or moral standing.
  • After the scandal, the politician descended from grace.
• Descend on/upon like a ton of bricks: to criticize or punish someone very severely.
  • If you're late again, the boss will descend on you like a ton of bricks.

Verb

1. come as if by falling
   • Night fell
   • Silence fell
2. do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
3. come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example
   • She was descended from an old Italian noble family
   • he comes from humble origins
4. move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
   • The temperature is going down
   • The barometer is falling
   • The curtain fell on the diva
   • Her hand went up and then fell again