1move or fall downwards:the aircraft began to descend
[with object] move down (a slope or stairs):the vehicle descended a ramp
(of a road, path, or flight of steps) slope or lead downwards:a side road descended into the forest [with object]:a flight of stairs descended a steep slope
move down a scale of quality: (as adjective descending)the categories are listed in descending order of usefulness
Music (of sound) become lower in pitch: (as adjective descending)a passage of descending chords
(descend to) act in a shameful way that is far below one’s usual standards:he was scrupulous in refusing to descend to misrepresentation
(descend into) (of a situation or group of people) reach (an undesirable state):the army had descended into chaos
2 (descend on/upon) make a sudden attack on:the militia descended on Rye
(descend on/upon) make an unexpected visit to:groups of visiting supporters descended on a local pub
(of a feeling) develop suddenly and affect a place or person:an air of gloom descended on Labour Party headquarters
(of night or darkness) begin to occur:as the winter darkness descended, the fighting ceased
3 (be descended from) be a blood relative of (a specified ancestor):John Dalrymple was descended from an ancient Ayrshire family
(of an asset) pass by inheritance, typically from parent to child:his lands descended to his eldest son
