˜yÐÄvlog

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View synonyms for

descent

[ dih-sent ]

noun

  1. the act, process, or fact of moving from a higher to a lower position.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. a downward inclination or slope.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  3. a passage or stairway leading down.
  4. derivation from an ancestor; lineage; extraction.

    Synonyms: , ,

  5. any passing from higher to lower in degree or state; decline.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,

  6. a sudden raid or hostile attack.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  7. Law. transmission of real property by intestate succession.


descent

/ »åɪˈ²õÉ›²Ô³Ù /

noun

  1. the act of descending
  2. a downward slope or inclination
  3. a passage, path, or way leading downwards
  4. derivation from an ancestor or ancestral group; lineage
  5. (in genealogy) a generation in a particular lineage
  6. a decline or degeneration
  7. a movement or passage in degree or state from higher to lower
  8. often foll by on a sudden and overwhelming arrival or attack
  9. property law (formerly) the transmission of real property to the heir on an intestacy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms

  • ±è°ù±ðd±ð·²õ³¦±ð²Ô³Ù noun
  • °ù±ðd±ð·²õ³¦±ð²Ô³Ù noun
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of descent1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French descente, derivative of descendre “to come down,†modeled on such pairs as vente, vendre; descend
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Make Sure You Die Screaming†is, on the surface, ideologically coherent, its narrator very clearly on the left and furious at their parents’ descent into right-wing conspiracy theories and grievance politics.

From

A trip to Everest base camp - used by climbers during their ascent and descent of the world's tallest mountain - will hopefully provide Grayson with at least one lasting memory.

From

There are even flashes of Grace, the lonely shut-in mother of two in “The Others,†whose belief that her house is haunted causes her slow descent into madness.

From

Nevertheless, his arrest and detention follows a familiar pattern of the federal government targeting noncitizens in higher education, particularly those of Middle Eastern descent.

From

Many see this as a chance to call halt and stop the descent into all-out autocracy - if it's not already too late.

From

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Descent Vs. Dissent Vs. Decent

What’s the difference between descent, dissent, and decent?

Descent is a noun that means the act of moving downward (descending), a downward movement, or downward movement in general. Dissent can be a noun meaning disagreement, as in I voiced my dissent, or a verb meaning to disagree, as in The judge is expected to dissent. Decent is an adjective that means adequate or suitable, as in a decent meal, or good or respectable, as in a decent person.

Descent and dissent are pronounced exactly the same. Perhaps the best way to remember the difference between them is to think about what related words mean and how they’re spelled. ˜yÐÄvlogs related to descent involve movement and are spelled with sc, including descend, ascent, ascension, and transcend. ˜yÐÄvlogs related to dissent involve agreement or disagreement and end with -sent, including assent and consent.

Despite their similar spelling, descent and decent are pronounced differently. In descent, the emphasis is on the -scent part of the word, with the first part pronounced like dih. In decent, the emphasis is on the first part of the word, which is pronounced like dee.

So how can you remember which one gets the s? Dropping the s is the decent thing to do, but you should pick it back up for your descent. (And if you dissent, pick up two ²õ’s).

Here’s an example of descent, dissent, and decent used correctly in a sentence.

Example: There was dissent among the climbers about when they should make the descent, but they decided to do it while the weather was still decent.

Quiz yourself on descent ±¹²õ.Ìýdissent!

Should descent, dissent, or decent be used in the following sentence?

The plane’s rapid _____ was caused by a faulty engine.

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