Descended: meaning, definitions and examples
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descended
[ dɪˈsɛndɪd ]
origin or lineage
The term 'descended' is the past tense of the verb 'descend', which means to move downwards or to come from a specific source or ancestor. In a genealogical context, it often refers to lineage or ancestry, indicating that one belongs to a particular family or heritage that has come from an earlier generation. For instance, someone might say they have descended from a noble lineage, signifying their familial roots. In a more literal sense, it can also refer to physically going down a path, slope, or staircase. Thus, it blends both physical and metaphorical meanings depending on the context.
Synonyms
came down, emerged, fell, originated
Examples of usage
- She descended from a long line of artists.
- The airplane descended smoothly towards the runway.
- He descended into the depths of the cave.
- They descended from the hilltop to the valley below.
Translations
Translations of the word "descended" in other languages:
🇵🇹 descendente
🇮🇳 उतरा हुआ
🇩🇪 abgestiegen
🇮🇩 turun
🇺🇦 спадковий
🇵🇱 zstąpił
🇯🇵 降りた
🇫🇷 descendu
🇪🇸 descendido
🇹🇷 inmek
🇰🇷 내려온
🇸🇦 نزل
🇨🇿 sestoupil
🇸🇰 zostúpil
🇨🇳 下降的
🇸🇮 sestopil
🇮🇸 fór niður
🇰🇿 түскен
🇬🇪 ჩამოსული
🇦🇿 enmək
🇲🇽 descendido
Word origin
The word 'descended' has its roots in the Latin word 'descendere', which is a combination of 'de-', meaning 'down', and 'scandere', meaning 'to climb'. The transition of the word into Old French as 'descendre' and subsequently into Middle English helped to shape its current form. Over centuries, 'descended' has evolved in usage, retaining both its literal meaning of moving from a higher to a lower place as well as its abstract usage relating to ancestry. The use of 'descended' in genealogical contexts became particularly prominent in the English language during the Middle Ages when family lineage and heritage gained importance.