Decend vs. Descend — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 30, 2024
"Decend" is an incorrect spelling. The correct form is "descend," meaning to move downward or to originate from.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Decend or Descend
How to spell Descend?
Decend
Incorrect Spelling
Descend
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember "descend" has the word "end" in it.
Visualize the extra 's' as steps going downwards.
Use mnemonic: "Descending stairs seems endless."
Think of "descent" which has the same root and means the action of moving downwards.
Recall the prefix "de-" meaning downward or away.
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How Do You Spell Descend Correctly?
Incorrect: We watched the eagle decend from the sky.
Correct: We watched the eagle descend from the sky.
Incorrect: You must decend three flights of stairs to reach the basement.
Correct: You must descend three flights of stairs to reach the basement.
Incorrect: The family claims to decend from European royalty.
Correct: The family claims to descend from European royalty.
Incorrect: The path begins to decend sharply after the bridge.
Correct: The path begins to descend sharply after the bridge.
Incorrect: His ability to decend into the cave quickly was impressive.
Correct: His ability to descend into the cave quickly was impressive.
Descend Definitions
To originate or come from an ancestral source.
She descends from a long line of artists.
To show a noticeable deterioration.
The meeting descended into chaos.
To move from a higher to a lower place; come or go down.
To slope, extend, or incline downward
"A rough path descended like a steep stair into the plain" (J.R.R. Tolkien).
To be related by genetic descent from an individual or individuals in a previous generation
He descends from Norwegian immigrants.
To come down from a source; derive
A tradition descending from colonial days.
To pass by inheritance
The house has descended through four generations.
To lower oneself; stoop
"She, the conqueror, had descended to the level of the conquered" (James Bryce).
To proceed or progress downward, as in rank, pitch, or scale
Titles listed in descending order of importance.
Notes that descended to the lower register.
To arrive or attack in a sudden or overwhelming manner
Summer tourists descending on the seashore village.
To move from a higher to lower part of; go down
I descended the staircase into the basement.
To extend or proceed downward along
A road that descended the mountain in sharp curves.
(intransitive) To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, for example by falling, flowing, walking, climbing etc.
To enter mentally; to retire.
To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence.
And on the suitors let thy wrath descend.
(intransitive) To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or rank; to lower or abase oneself
He descended from his high estate.
(intransitive) To pass from the more general or important to the specific or less important matters to be considered.
(intransitive) To come down, as from a source, original, or stock
To be derived (from)
To proceed by generation or by transmission; to happen by inheritance.
The beggar may descend from a prince.
A crown descends to the heir.
To move toward the south, or to the southward.
To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.
(transitive) To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of
They descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder
To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to incline downward; - the opposite of ascend.
The rain descended, and the floods came.
We will here descend to matters of later date.
To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; - with on or upon.
And on the suitors let thy wrath descend.
To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate.
To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered.
To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived; to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by inheritance; as, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir.
To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder.
But never tears his cheek descended.
Move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way;
The temperature is going down
The barometer is falling
The curtain fell on the diva
Her hand went up and then fell again
Come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example;
She was descended from an old Italian noble family
He comes from humble origins
Do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
Come as if by falling;
Night fell
Silence fell
To move or fall downward.
The path descends steeply to the river.
To come or go down suddenly from a place or position.
Night descended upon the city.
To arrive or visit, especially in a sudden or uninvited manner.
Tourists descend on the town during summer.
Descend Meaning in a Sentence
The bats descend from the cave at dusk.
The discussion seemed to descend into chaos after a while.
The rappellers prepare to descend the cliff face.
The temperature will descend below freezing tonight.
Legends say that the gods would descend to Earth here.
They descend from a long line of artists and musicians.
The skier prepared to descend the black diamond slope.
We could see the mist descend over the hills.
Her mood seemed to descend after the call.
Birds descend to the ground to pick up food.
The miner's lamp began to fade as they descend further.
The peaceful protest did not descend into violence.
The helicopter began to descend towards the helipad.
He felt a chill descend down his spine.
As silence descends, the ceremony begins.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called descend?
The word comes from Latin "descendere" meaning "to climb down."
What is the verb form of descend?
"Descend" is already in its verb form.
Which vowel is used before descend?
The indefinite article "a" is used before "descend."
Which conjunction is used with descend?
Any conjunction can be used based on the sentence structure.
What is the singular form of descend?
Descend.
Which article is used with descend?
Both "a" and "the" can be used based on context.
What is the pronunciation of descend?
Descend is pronounced as /dɪˈsɛnd/.
Is descend an abstract noun?
No, descend is a verb, but "descent" can be a noun referring to the action or process of descending.
What is the root word of descend?
The root word is "scend" from Latin "scandere" meaning to climb.
Is descend a noun or adjective?
Descend is a verb.
Is the descend term a metaphor?
Not in itself, but can be used metaphorically, e.g., "descend into madness."
Is descend an adverb?
No, descend is not an adverb.
Is descend a vowel or consonant?
Descend is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
What is a stressed syllable in descend?
The second syllable, "scend," is stressed.
What part of speech is descend?
Descend is a verb.
Which determiner is used with descend?
Determiners like "this" or "that" can be used with "descend."
What is the plural form of descend?
Descends (in the third-person singular present form).
Which preposition is used with descend?
"Into" or "from" can be used, depending on the context.
Is descend a negative or positive word?
Descend is neutral; its connotation depends on context.
Is descend a countable noun?
Descend is a verb, not a noun.
How do we divide descend into syllables?
De-scend.
Is descend a collective noun?
No, descend is a verb.
What is the opposite of descend?
Ascend.
How is descend used in a sentence?
"The airplane began to descend as it approached the airport."
Is the word descend imperative?
It can be used in the imperative mood, e.g., "Descend the stairs!"
How many syllables are in descend?
Descend has two syllables.
What is the second form of descend?
Descended.
What is the third form of descend?
Descended.
What is another term for descend?
Drop, fall, or lower.
What is the first form of descend?
Descend.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
