descent
An instance of descending; act of coming down.
Noun 4 meanings
An instance of descending; act of coming down.
“We climbed the mountain with difficulty, but the descent was easier.”
A way down.
“We had difficulty in finding the correct descent.”
A sloping passage or incline.
“The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.”
Lineage or hereditary derivation.
“Our guide was of Welsh descent.”
Etymology
From Middle English and Anglo-Norman descente, from Anglo-Norman descendre (“to descend”); see descend. Compare ascent, ascend. Doublet of desant.
Similar and opposite words
DESCENT at a glance
DESCENT has 7 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (D 2 + E 1 + S 1 + C 3 + E 1 + N 1 + T 1) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #7,785 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with descent
All rhymesOne letter away
- DESCEND11
- DESCANT10
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