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descent

noun
/dɪˈsɛnt/UK/dəˈsɛnt/US

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-Norman descente, from Anglo-Norman descendre (“to descend”); see descend. Compare ascent, ascend. Doublet of desant.

  1. derived from descendre
  2. derived from descente

Definitions

  1. An instance of descending

    An instance of descending; act of coming down.

    • We climbed the mountain with difficulty, but the descent was easier.
    • The descent continues, still more steeply to Dundee (Tay Bridge), and approaching from the bridge itself this sharp descent gives the curious appearance that the station is below the level of the firth.
    • To the north the towering scree-strewn slopes of Saddleback begin to draw nearer as we start the abrupt descent towards Keswick.

  2. A way down.

    • We had difficulty in finding the correct descent.

  3. A sloping passage or incline.

    • The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.
  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. Lineage or hereditary derivation.

      • Our guide was of Welsh descent.

    2. A drop to a lower status or condition

      A drop to a lower status or condition; decline.

      • After that, the holiday went into a steep descent.

    3. A falling upon or invasion.

    4. A particular extension of the idea of gluing.

The neighborhood

Derived

bilateral descent, descent group, descent vehicle, double descent, gradient descent, graduate student descent, hyperdescent, hypodescent, identical by descent, infinite descent, maldescent, matrilineal descent, minimum descent altitude, patrilineal descent, recursive descent, redescent

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at descent. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01descent02descending03ordered04respects05condolences06sympathy07accord08tone09diatonic10natural

A definitional loop anchored at descent. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

10 hops · closes at descent

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA