the act or process of descending
a downward inclination; a slope
a descending way, e.g. a staircase
a downward step, e.g. in status or value
(often + from) derivation from an ancestor; birth or lineage
of French descent
(often + from) a transmission from a usu earlier source; a derivation
(often + on) a sudden hostile raid or attack
the transmission of an estate by inheritance
[Middle English from early French descente, from descendre: see descend]