What Is Descent? Definition And Usage Of This Term

WHAT IS DESCENT – In this topic, we will first know the definition of this term and how is this term used in sentences.

Definition

The Oxford Dictionary described this term as the following:

an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling.
- a downward slope, especially a path or track.
- a moral, social, or psychological decline into a specified undesirable state.
the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality.
- the transmission of qualities, property, or privileges by inheritance
a sudden violent attack..

On the other hand, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this term as the following:

derivation from an ancestor
- transmission or devolution of an estate by inheritance usually in the descending line
- the fact or process of originating from an ancestral stock
- the shaping or development in nature and character by transmission from a source
the act or process of descending from a higher to a lower level, rank, or state
a step downward in a scale of gradation
- one generation in an ancestral line or genealogical scale
an inclination downward
- a way (such as a downgrade or stairway) that descends or leads
the lowest part

Synonyms and Antonyms

Here are the following synonyms and antonyms of the term:

Synonyms
- drop
- fall
- sinking
- subsiding
- slope
- incline
- dip
- drop
- gradient
- declivity
Antonyms
- ascent
- climb
- climb
- scaling
- conquest
- rise
- incline
- ramp
- liftoff
- launch

Etymology

It is a Middle English term which is derived from the Old French term descente, which is then derived from descendre.

Examples

Here are some of the examples:

The airplane will descend to a lower altitude soon.
Descending the mountain was even more dangerous than climbing it.
Donnie clung to his mother, eyes wide, pointing to a climber about to descend from the corner of the bridge.
Above that point there is no navigation except by the native rafts (kellek), which descend the river and are broken up on arrival at their point of destination.