De*scend" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n. Descending.] [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- + scandere to climb. See Scan.] 1. 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 opposite of ascend.

The rain descended, and the floods came.

We will here descend to matters of later date.

2. To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic]

[He] with holiest meditations fed,
Into himself descended.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.

6. 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, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir.

7. (Anat.) To move toward the south, or to the southward.

8. (Mus.) To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.

De*scend" (?), v. t. 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.

• 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.
       We will here descend to matters of later date. Fuller.
  
• To enter mentally; to retire.
        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.
       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 pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
  
• 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, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir.
  
• (Anat.) To move toward the south, or to the southward.
  
• (Mus.) To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.
  
• 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.