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. Virgil:

   The descent to hell is easy, the black gates stand open night and day, but to climb back up again to retrace ones steps to the upper air there in lies the laborious task, the toil.

2. Lehigh University:

   Current Facebook use is more common among respondents who are: middle aged (40 to 60), female, not seeking employment, of Asian descent, or currently married.

3. Virgil:

   Oh you who are born of the blood of the gods, Trojan son of Anchises. Easy is the descent to hell the door of dark Dis stands open day and night. But to retrace your steps and come out to the air above, that is work; that is labor.

4. Patricia Matthew:

   I think that what matters is who is nominating, and who's in the room, i also think part of the challenge is not understanding or appreciating the impact of the work that No Black, African, people of African descent, the impact of their work globally.

5. Chief Executive Officer Richard Edelman:

   NGOs were a rocket ship going up but we are now seeing their descent. The NGO sector is seen as important enough to take seriously and judge if it is performing or not.

Images & Illustrations of descent

Popularity rank by frequency of use