Definition of descend

The word "descend" has its roots in Latin. The Latin verb "descendere" means "to go down" or "to come down from a higher place to a lower one." This verb is a combination of "de," meaning "down" or "away from," and "scendere," which is the third person singular present tense of "scire," meaning "to know" or "to go." When Latin was translated into Middle English, the word "descend" became the standard translation of "descendere." Over time, the spelling of the word changed, but its meaning remained the same. Today, "descend" can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to go down or move downward from a higher place to a lower one.