descent

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪˈsɛnt/

• Audio (US)

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• Homophones: dissent (for some dialects)

descent (countable and uncountable, plural descents)

1. An instance of descending; act of coming down.

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

   • 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track

     The next one surrendered his bike, only for that, too, to give him a second flat as he started the descent.

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. Lineage or hereditary derivation.

   Our guide was of Welsh descent.

5. A drop to a lower status or condition; decline. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

   After that, the holiday went into a steep descent.

6. A falling upon or invasion.
7. (topology) A particular extension of the idea of gluing. See Descent (mathematics).

• Sometimes confused with decent.

• (going down): ascent

• hypodescent, hyperdescent

• descend

• descent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• descent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

• cedents, scented