descent

• Substantiv, das die Handlung oder den Prozess des Hinabsteigens oder Herabsteigens bezeichnet sowie die Abstammung oder Herkunft einer Person.

A noun referring to the act or process of moving downward, or to a person's family origin or ancestry.

1. Downward movementB1formal

   The act of moving downward from a higher to a lower position.

   Abstieg

   • The plane began its descent toward the airport.
   • The hikers made a slow descent down the mountain.
   • The elevator's descent was smooth and quiet.

   Synonymedeclinedivedropfallplungesinking

   Antonymeascensionascentclimbrise

2. Ancestry or originB1formal

   A person's family origin or ethnic background.

   Abstammung

   • She is of Irish descent.
   • He traced his descent back to the 18th century.
   • Many people in the city are of African descent.

   Synonymeancestrybackgroundbloodlineextractionfamilylineageoriginparentagepedigree

3. Decline or deteriorationB2formal

   A gradual decline into a worse state or condition.

   Niedergang

   • The country's descent into chaos was alarming.
   • His descent into addiction was slow but steady.
   • The company's descent into bankruptcy was inevitable.

   Synonymedecaydeclinedegenerationdegradationdeteriorationdownturndropfallregressionslideslumpworsening

   Antonymeascentimprovementprogressrecoveryrise