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From Nordan Symposia
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===Etymology===
===Etymology===
From [[w:French language|French]] [[descendre]], [[w:Latin|Latin]] [[descendere]], [[descensum]]; [[de-]] + [[scandere]] (meaning ''to climb''). See [[scan]].
From French descendre, Latin descendere, descensum; de- + scandere (meaning ''to climb'').
===Intransitive verb===
===Intransitive verb===
# To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to [[incline]] downward
# To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to [[incline]] downward
#:''The rain descended, and the floods came.'' [[Matthew]] vii. 25.
#:''The rain descended, and the floods came.'' [[Matthew]] vii. 25.
#:''We will here descend to matters of later date.'' [[Fuller]].
#:''We will here descend to matters of later date.'' Fuller.
# To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic]
# To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic]
#:''[He] with holiest meditations fed, Into himself descended.'' [[Milton]].
#:''[He] with holiest meditations fed, Into himself descended.'' Milton.
# To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; -- with [[on]] or [[upon]].
# To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; -- with [[on]] or [[upon]].
#:''And on the suitors let thy wrath descend.'' [[Pope]].
#:''And on the suitors let thy wrath descend.'' Pope.
# To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate.
# To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate.
# To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
# To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
# To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder.
# To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder.
#:''But never tears his cheek descended.'' Byron.
#:''But never tears his cheek descended.'' Byron.
===Antonyms===
===Antonyms===
