GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Descend , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n. Descending.] [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- + scandere to climb. See Scan.]
    To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to incline downward; -- the opposite of ascend.
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   The rain descended, and the floods came.
   Matt. vii. 25.
   
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   We will here descend to matters of later date.
   Fuller.
   
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   To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic]
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   [He] with holiest meditations fed,
   Into himself descended.
   Milton.
   
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   To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; -- with on or upon.
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   And on the suitors let thy wrath descend.
   Pope.
   
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   To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate.
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   To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
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   To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived; to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by inheritance; as, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir.
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   (Anat.) To move toward the south, or to the southward.
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   (Mus.) To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.
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2.       
   Descend , 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.
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   But never tears his cheek descended.
   Byron.
   
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