Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [dih-sent]
- /dɪˈsɛnt/
- /dɪˈsent/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dih-sent]
- /dɪˈsɛnt/
Definitions of descent word
- variable noun descent A descent is a movement from a higher to a lower level or position. 3
- countable noun descent A descent is a surface that slopes downwards, for example the side of a steep hill. 3
- singular noun descent When you want to emphasize that a situation becomes very bad, you can talk about someone's or something's descent into that situation. 3
- uncountable noun descent You use descent to talk about a person's family background, for example their nationality or social status. 3
- noun descent the act of descending 3
- noun descent a downward slope or inclination 3
Information block about the term
Origin of descent
First appearance:
before 1300 One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French descente, derivative of descendre to descend, modeled on such pairs as vente, vendre
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Descent
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
descent popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
descent usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for descent
noun descent
- slide — to move along in continuous contact with a smooth or slippery surface: to slide down a snow-covered hill.
- plunge — to cast or thrust forcibly or suddenly into something, as a liquid, a penetrable substance, a place, etc.; immerse; submerge: to plunge a dagger into one's heart.
- slope — to have or take an inclined or oblique direction or angle considered with reference to a vertical or horizontal plane; slant.
- declivity — a downward slope, esp of the ground
- tumble — to fall helplessly down, end over end, as by losing one's footing, support, or equilibrium; plunge headlong: to tumble down the stairs.
Antonyms for descent
noun descent
- break even — to attain a level of activity, as in commerce, or a point of operation, as in gambling, at which there is neither profit nor loss
- increase — to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.
- ascension — In some religions, when someone goes to heaven, you can refer to their ascension to heaven.
- improvement — an act of improving or the state of being improved.
- level — having no part higher than another; having a flat or even surface.
Top questions with descent
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See also
Matching words
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