descendant

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪˈsɛndənt/
• Hyphenation: des‧cen‧dant

Adjective

descendant (not comparable)

1. Descending; going down
   • The elevator resumed its descendant trajectory.
2. Descending from a biological ancestor.
   • Power in the kingdom is transferred in a descendant manner.
3. Proceeding from a figurative ancestor or source.

Noun

descendant (plural descendants)

1. One of the progeny of a specified person, at any distance of time or through any number of generations.
   • The patriarch survived many descendants: five children, a dozen grandchildren, even a great grandchild.
2. (figuratively) A thing that derives directly from a given precursor or source.
   • This famous medieval manuscript has many descendants.
3. (biology) A later evolutionary type.
   • Dogs evolved as descendants of early wolves.
4. (linguistics) A language that is descended from another.
   • English and Scots are the descendants of Old English.
5. (linguistics) A word or form in one language that is descended from a counterpart in an ancestor language.
   • Synonyms: reflex, derivative
   • Antonym: etymon
   • Coordinate term: cognate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /de.sɑ̃.dɑ̃/

Participle

descendant

1. present participle of descendre
2. (preceded by en) gerund of descendre

Noun

descendant m (plural descendants, feminine descendante)

1. a descendant; one who is the progeny of someone at any distance of time; e.g. a child; a grandchild, etc.

Adjective

descendant (feminine descendante, masculine plural descendants, feminine plural descendantes)

1. (which is) descending
   • Antonyms: ascendant, montant

Related terms

• descendance
• descendre

Verb

dēscendant

1. third-person plural present active subjunctive of dēscendō