Definitions for descent
dɪˈsɛntde·scent

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. descent(noun)

   a movement downward

2. origin, descent, extraction(noun)

   properties attributable to your ancestry

   "he comes from good origins"

3. descent(noun)

   the act of changing your location in a downward direction

4. descent, line of descent, lineage, filiation(noun)

   the kinship relation between an individual and the individual's progenitors

5. descent, declivity, fall, decline, declination, declension, downslope(noun)

   a downward slope or bend

6. lineage, line, line of descent, descent, bloodline, blood line, blood, pedigree, ancestry, origin, parentage, stemma, stock(noun)

   the descendants of one individual

   "his entire lineage has been warriors"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. descent(Noun)

   An instance of descending

   We climbed the mountain with difficulty, but the descent was easier.

   Etymology: From and descente, from descendre; see descend. Compare ascent, ascend.

2. descent(Noun)

   A way down.

   We had difficulty in finding the correct descent.

   Etymology: From and descente, from descendre; see descend. Compare ascent, ascend.

3. descent(Noun)

   A sloping passage or incline.

   The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.

   Etymology: From and descente, from descendre; see descend. Compare ascent, ascend.

4. descent(Noun)

   Lineage or hereditary derivation

   Our guide was of Welsh descent.

   Etymology: From and descente, from descendre; see descend. Compare ascent, ascend.

5. descent(Noun)

   A drop to a lower status or condition.

   After that, the holiday went into a steep descent.

   Etymology: From and descente, from descendre; see descend. Compare ascent, ascend.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Descent(noun)

   the act of descending, or passing downward; change of place from higher to lower

2. Descent(noun)

   incursion; sudden attack; especially, hostile invasion from sea; -- often followed by upon or on; as, to make a descent upon the enemy

3. Descent(noun)

   progress downward, as in station, virtue, as in station, virtue, and the like, from a higher to a lower state, from a higher to a lower state, from the more to the less important, from the better to the worse, etc

4. Descent(noun)

   derivation, as from an ancestor; procedure by generation; lineage; birth; extraction

5. Descent(noun)

   transmission of an estate by inheritance, usually, but not necessarily, in the descending line; title to inherit an estate by reason of consanguinity

6. Descent(noun)

   inclination downward; a descending way; inclined or sloping surface; declivity; slope; as, a steep descent

7. Descent(noun)

   that which is descended; descendants; issue

8. Descent(noun)

   a step or remove downward in any scale of gradation; a degree in the scale of genealogy; a generation

9. Descent(noun)

   lowest place; extreme downward place

10. Descent(noun)

    a passing from a higher to a lower tone

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Descent

   Descent is a 3D first-person shooter video game developed by Parallax Software and released by Interplay on March 17, 1995. The game features six degrees of freedom gameplay and garnered several expansion packs. It spawned two direct sequels: Descent II and Descent 3. The trademark registration for Descent was allowed to lapse by Interplay in 2002 and was re-registered in 2008.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. descent

   The landing of troops for the purpose of invading a country. The passage down a river.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'descent' in Nouns Frequency: #2854

Anagrams for descent »

1. scented

How to pronounce descent?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say descent in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of descent in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of descent in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of descent in a Sentence

1. Hillary Clinton:

   “The United Nations and the Organization of American States have named 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. This is an opportunity for all of us around the globe to celebrate the diversity of our societies and to honor the contributions that our fellow citizens of African descent make every day to the economic, social and political fabrics of our communities.”

2. Thomas Stecher:

   Our partners assessed the situation early in the morning and there was no danger, if they had doubts, they certainly would not have opened the descent to the valley.

3. John Dryden:

   The gates of Hell are open night and day Smooth the descent, and easy is the way But, to return, and view the cheerful skies In this, the task and mighty labor lies.

4. Ken Martin:

   A person familiar with the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday the boy was decapitated. Paul Oberhauser told local television station KCTV Paul Oberhauser shoulder restraint busted loose on Paul Oberhauser Verruckt raft July 26. The Nebraska man said The Nebraska man just held on, and a video shot by The Nebraska man wife shows the strap loose at the ride's end. Paul Oberhauser said Paul Oberhauser reported the matter to park workers. Kenneth Conrad, Kenneth Conrad, told WDAF-TV that during Kenneth Conrad trip down the waterslide last year with a friend, the friend's shoulder strap came completely off. Conrad's wife snapped a photo at the end of the ride showing the strap missing, and Kenneth Conrad didn't file a complaint with the park. The park's spokeswoman didn't return messages Tuesday from The Associated Press seeking comment on the claims. In a statement, she said a limited portion of the park will reopen at midday Wednesday. Riders sit in multi-person rafts that begin with the steep drop, followed by a surge up a second hill before a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool. Along the way, riders clutch ropes along the inside of the raft. In early tests, rafts carrying sandbags flew off the slide, prompting engineers to tear down half of the ride and reconfigure some angles. A promotional video about building the slide includes footage of two men riding a raft down a half-size test model and going slightly airborne as it crests the top of the first big hill. Caleb Schwab was in a raft with two adults who were not related to Caleb Schwab when Caleb Schwab was killed on the slide, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s tallest. The other two were treated for facial injuries. Police were investigating the death as a criminal case although police spokesman Cameron Morgan said Tuesday that designation did not mean they suspect foul play. Jon Rust, a professor of textile engineering at North Carolina State University, said the material used on the straps, commonly called hook and loop, isn't designed to keep a person in the seat. It also can get old and degrade with use. It's got to be used in a safe manner, and that doesn't include stopping someone's fall or preventing someone's ejection, Jon Rust said. Ken Martin, Ken Martin, questioned whether the straps were appropriate for what Ken Martin called nothing more than a roller coaster with water. Although Ken Martin has not seen or ridden Verruckt, Martin said a more solid restraint system that fits over the body - similar to those used in roller coasters - may have been better. I think we have a serious issue with the restraint system. Period.

5. Germany Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt:

   The French prosecutors' assessment that the plane was deliberately put into descent is equally plausible according to our experts, according to current knowledge we assume that the captain was actively barred from accessing the cockpit.

Images & Illustrations of descent

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