Part 2989

<p><b>7.</b> <def>That which is descended; descendants; issue.</def>

<blockquote>If care of our <b>descent</b> perplex us most, Which must be born to certain woe. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>8.</b> <def>A step or remove downward in any scale of gradation; a degree in the scale of genealogy; a generation.</def>

<blockquote>No man living is a thousand <b>descents</b> removed from Adam himself. <i>Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>9.</b> <def>Lowest place; extreme downward place.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>And from the extremest upward of thy head, To the <b>descent</b> and dust below thy foot. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>10.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>A passing from a higher to a lower tone.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- Declivity; slope; degradation; extraction; lineage; assault; invasion; attack.</syn>

<h1>Describable</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scrib"a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>That can be described; capable of description.</def>

<h1>Describe</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scribe"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Described</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Describing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>describere</ets>, <ets>descriptum</ets>; <ets>de-</ets> + <ets>scribere</ets> to write: cf. OE. <ets>descriven</ets>, OF. <ets>descrivre</ets>, F. <ets>d\'82crire</ets>. See <er>Scribe</er>, and cf. <er>Descry</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; <as>as, to <ex>describe</ex> a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to <ex>describe</ex> a circle.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; <as>as, the geographer <ex>describes</ex> countries and cities</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Passed through the land, and <b>described</b> it by cities into seven parts in a book. <i>Josh. xviii. 9.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize.</syn>

<h1>Describe</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scribe"</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; <as>as, Milton <ex>describes</ex> with uncommon force and beauty</as>.</def>

<h1>Describent</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scrib"ent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>describens</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>describere</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Geom.)</fld> <def>Same as <er>Generatrix</er>.</def>

<h1>Describer</h1> <Xpage=397>

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

<h1>Descrier</h1> <Xpage=397>

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

<h1>Description</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scrip"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>description</ets>, L. <ets>descriptio</ets>. See <er>Describe</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.</def>