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)