descend

descend
verb
1 (I, T) formal to move from a higher level to a lower one: The plane started to descend.
(+ from): He descended slowly from the railway carriage. | descend sth: Mrs Danvers descended the stairs. —opposite ascend
2 (I) literary if darkness, night etc descends, it begins to get dark
3 in descending order numbers, choices etc that are in descending order are arranged from the highest or most important to the lowest or least important
descend from sth phrasal verb (T)
1 to have developed from something that existed in the past: These ideas descend from those of the ancient philosophers.
2 be descended from sb to be related to someone who lived a long time ago: My mother claims she is descended from Abraham Lincoln.
descend on/upon sb/sth phrasal verb (T)
1 if a feeling descends on someone, they begin to feel it: Gloom descended on the office when we heard the news.
2 informal if a large number of people descend on you, they come to your home: My in-laws are descending on us this weekend.
descend to sth phrasal verb (T) to behave or speak in an unpleasant way that is not what people expect from you: descend to (doing) sth: I refused to descend to petty personal attacks. | descend to sb's level (=behave or speak in the same unpleasant way as someone else)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Descend — De*scend , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Descended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Descending}.] [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de + scandere to climb. See {Scan}.] 1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • descend — ► VERB 1) move down or downwards. 2) slope or lead downwards. 3) (descend to) lower oneself to commit (a shameful act). 4) (descend on) make a sudden attack on or unwelcome visit to. 5) (be descended from) be a blood relative of (an a …   English terms dictionary

  • descend — c.1300, from O.Fr. descendre (10c.) descend, dismount; fall into; originate in, from L. descendere come down, descend, sink, from de down (see DE (Cf. de )) + scandere to climb, from PIE root *skand jump (see SCAN (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • descend — [v1] move down, lower a cascade, cataract, cave in*, coast, collapse, crash, crouch, decline, deplane, detrain, dip, disembark, dismount, dive, dribble*, drop, fall, fall prostrate, get down, get off, go down, gravitate, ground, incline, light,… …   New thesaurus

  • Descend — De*scend , v. t. To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder. [1913 Webster] But never tears his cheek descended. Byron. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • descend — de·scend /di send/ vi: to pass by inheritance de·scen·di·bil·i·ty / ˌsen də bi lə tē/ n de·scend·ible / sen də bəl/ adj Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • descend on — index attack Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • descend — descend, dismount, alight mean to get or come down from a height. One descends when one climbs down a slope (as of a hill or mountain), a ladder, a step, a stair, a wall, or a tree; one dismounts when one gets down from a horse or from a bicycle… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • descend — [dē send′, disend′] vi. [ME descenden < OFr descendre < L descendere, to climb down, fall < de , down + scandere, to climb < ? IE base * skend , * skand , to leap > Gr skandalon (> SCANDAL), Sans Skandati, (he) leaps] 1. to move …   English World dictionary

  • descend — de|scend [dıˈsend] v [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: descendre, from Latin scandere to climb ] 1.) [I and T] formal to move from a higher level to a lower one ≠ ↑ascend ▪ Our plane started to descend. ▪ I heard his footsteps descending… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”