Part 2987

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; -- with <i>on</i> or <i>upon</i>.</def>

<blockquote>And on the suitors let thy wrath <b>descend</b>. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; <as>as, he <ex>descended</ex> from his high estate</as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived; to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by inheritance; <as>as, the beggar may <ex>descend</ex> from a prince; a crown <ex>descends</ex> to the heir.</as></def>

<p><b>7.</b> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>To move toward the south, or to the southward.</def>

<p><b>8.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.</def>

<h1>Descend</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; <as>as, they <ex>descended</ex> the river in boats; to <ex>descend</ex> a ladder.</as></def>

<blockquote>But never tears his cheek <b>descended</b>. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Descendant</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend"ant</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>descendant</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>descendre</ets>. Cf. <er>Descendent</er>.]</ety> <def>Descendent.</def>

<h1>Descendant</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend"ant</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who descends, as offspring, however remotely; -- correlative to <i>ancestor</i> or <i>ascendant</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Our first parents and their <b>descendants</b>. <i>Hale.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The <b>descendant</b> of so many kings and emperors. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Descendent</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend"ent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>descendens</ets>, <ets>-entis</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>descendre</ets>. Cf. <er>Descendant</er>.]</ety> <def>Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source.</def>

<blockquote>More than mortal grace Speaks thee <b>descendent</b> of ethereal race. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Descender</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who descends.</def>

<h1>Descendibility</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend`i*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being descendible; capability of being transmitted from ancestors; <as>as, the <ex>descendibility</ex> of an estate</as>.</def>

<h1>Descendible</h1> <Xpage=396>

<hw>De*scend"i*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Admitting descent; capable of being descended.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That may descend from an ancestor to an heir.</def> "A <i>descendant</i> estate."

<i>Sir W. Jones.</i>