descent

About 9.47 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun An instance of descending; act of coming down.

   We climbed the mountain with difficulty, but the descent was easier.

2. noun A way down.

   We had difficulty in finding the correct descent.

3. noun A sloping passage or incline.

   The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.

4. noun Lineage or hereditary derivation.

   Our guide was of Welsh descent.

5. noun A drop to a lower status or condition; decline. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

   After that, the holiday went into a steep descent.

6. noun A falling upon or invasion.
7. noun A particular extension of the idea of gluing.

Similar words

decline fall downslope extraction origin stock parentage pedigree declivity filiation

Often followed by

of from into and to is in on was

Word family

descents