- to go or pass from a higher to a lower place; move or come down: to descend from the mountaintop.
- to pass from higher to lower in any scale or series.
- to go from generals to particulars, as in a discussion.
- to slope, tend, or lead downward: The path descends to the pond.
- to be inherited or transmitted, as through succeeding generations of a family: The title descends through eldest sons.
- to have a specific person or family among one's ancestors (usually followed by from): He is descended from Cromwell.
- to be derived from something remote in time, especially through continuous transmission: This festival descends from a druidic rite.
- to approach or pounce upon, especially in a greedy or hasty manner (followed byon or upon): Thrill-seekers descended upon the scene of the crime.
- to settle, as a cloud or vapor.
- to appear or become manifest, as a supernatural being, state of mind, etc.: Jupiter descended to humankind.
- to attack, especially with violence and suddenness (usually followed by on or upon): to descend upon enemy soldiers.
- to sink or come down from a certain intellectual, moral, or social standard: He would never descend to baseness.
- to move toward the horizon, as the sun or a star.
- to move downward upon or along; go or climb down (stairs, a hill, etc.).
- to extend or lead down along: The path descends the hill.
- to move, pass, or go down (a hill, slope, staircase, etc)
- (of a hill, slope, or path) to lead or extend down; slope; incline
- to move to a lower level, pitch, etc; fall
- to be connected by a blood relationship (to a dead or extinct individual, race, species, etc)
- to be passed on by parents or ancestors; be inherited
- to sink or come down in morals or behaviour; lower oneself
- to arrive or attack in a sudden or overwhelming way
- (of the sun, moon, etc) to move towards the horizon
