Descended
/dɪˈsendɪd/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo go or come down from a higher place to a lower one; to slope or incline downward.
/dɪˈsendɪd/
To move or fall downward.
The hiker descended the mountain with caution.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're on a rollercoaster. When you're going down the big hill, you're *descending*! It's like gravity pulling you downwards. Like the airplane went down.
👶 For kids: To go down from a higher place to a lower place, like going down a slide.
More Examples
The temperature descended as the night went on.
The value of the stock descended sharply after the announcement.
How It's Used
"The plane descended rapidly through the clouds."
"The river descended into the valley."
To be derived or originate from a particular source or ancestor; to have a specific lineage.
/dɪˈsendɪd/
To come down from an ancestor.
The family descended from a long line of kings.
💡 Simply: Imagine your family has a history, and your great-grandparents were artists. *Descended* means you got some of that artist in you! Your family came from artists and you descend from them
👶 For kids: To be related to someone who lived a long time ago, like your great-grandparents.
More Examples
Her ancestors descended from the Vikings.
We descended from the original settlers of this town.
How It's Used
"He descended from a long line of artists."
"The family descended from nobility."
To make a sudden and hostile attack or action; to arrive suddenly and unexpectedly.
/dɪˈsendɪd/
To make a sudden attack.
The rioters descended upon the government buildings.
💡 Simply: Imagine the movie scenes where the pirates 'descended' on a treasure ship, they quickly and unexpectly came after the treasure.
👶 For kids: To go somewhere to attack or get something.
More Examples
The predators descended on their prey.
The wolves descended on the herd.
How It's Used
"The soldiers descended upon the enemy fort."
"The crowd descended on the new shop."
Idioms & expressions
descend upon
To suddenly arrive or attack a place or person in large numbers.
"The media descended upon the scene of the crime."
From Middle English *descenden*, from Old French *descendre* (to go down), from Latin *dēscendere* (to climb down, descend), from *dē-* (down from) + *scandere* (to climb).
Historically, used in religious contexts to describe the descent of a deity or divine spirit, or in military contexts to describe an attack.
Memory tip
Think of a mountain climber *descending* a cliff.
Word Origin
"to climb down, descend"