- descend
- de|scend [dıˈsend] v[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: descendre, from Latin scandere 'to climb']1.) [I and T] formalto move from a higher level to a lower one≠ ↑ascend▪ Our plane started to descend.▪ I heard his footsteps descending the stairs.descend to/from/into etc▪ The path continues for some way before descending to Garsdale Head.2.) [i]literaryif darkness, silence, a feeling etc descends, it becomes dark etc or you start to feel something, especially suddenlydescend on/upon/over▪ Total silence descended on the room.▪ An air of gloom descended over the party headquarters.3.) in descending order (of sth)numbers, choices etc that are in descending order are arranged from the highest or most important to the lowest or least important▪ The hotels are listed in descending order of price.descend from / [descend from sb/sth] phr v1.) be descended from sbto be related to a person or group who lived a long time ago▪ She claims to be descended from Abraham Lincoln.▪ The people here are descended from the Vikings.2.) to have developed from something that existed in the past▪ ideas that descend from those of ancient philosophersdescend on/upon / [descend on/upon sb/sth] phr vif a large number of people descend on a person or a place, they come to visit or stay, especially when they are not very welcome▪ Millions of tourists descend on the area every year.descend to [descend to sth] phr vto behave or speak in an unpleasant way, which is not the way you usually behave▪ Surely he wouldn't descend to such a mean trick?descend to sb's level(=behave or speak as badly as someone else)▪ Other people may gossip, but don't descend to their level.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬HINT sense 1It is more usual to say go down or come down .▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.