English Explanatory Dictionary

descendant

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Descending; going down.
  2. Descending from a biological ancestor.
  3. Proceeding from a figurative ancestor or source.
noun
  1. One of the progeny of a specified person, at any distance of time or through any number of generations.
  2. A thing that derives directly from a given precursor or source.
  3. A later evolutionary type.
  4. A language that is descended from another.
  5. A word or form in one language that is descended from a counterpart in an ancestor language.
  6. The intersection of the western (setting) horizon and the ecliptic, its ecliptical longitude; the astrological sign it corresponds to.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈsɛndənt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Yangolin-descendent.wav en-us-descendant.ogg /dɪˈsendənt/

Word forms

descendant descendent descendants

Etymology

From Middle English dessendaunte, borrowed from Middle French, from Latin dēscendēns, present participle of descendere, from dē + scandere (“to climb, ascend”).

Synonyms

offspring scion and see Thesaurus:child & relative afterbear reflex derivative

Antonyms

ascendant ascendent ascending montant ancestor forebear progenitor forefather foremother etymon

Related words

descendancy offspring offshoot progeny

Derived words

Afrodescendant descendantless direct descendant indirect descendant nondescendant
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