3 meanings, 9 uses
(click/touch triangles for details)
1 —4 uses as in:
descend the mountain
Definition
move or slope downward
- Kinney turned the plane again, descended very low over camp, and dipped his wings.p. 313.9
descended = moved downward
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- In 1919, when two-year-old Louie was down with pneumonia, he climbed out his bedroom window, descended one story, and went on a naked tear down the street with a policeman chasing him and a crowd watching in amazement.p. 5.5
- Louie took out his binoculars, descended to the greenhouse, and began scanning.p. 117.1
- As he descended, Kinney saw POWs scattered over the paddy, looking "dirty, ragged and haggard," and a lone man trying to pull them back.p. 313.9
descended = climbed down
descended = moved down
descended = moved downward
There are no more uses of "descend" flagged with this meaning in Unbroken by Hillenbrand.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —1 use as in:
descend into poverty
Definition
figuratively, to move downward to a worse or less prestigious situation
- Once again in his tormenter's clutches, Louie descended back into a state of profound stress.p. 280.1
descended = moved (to a lower or less good condition)
There are no more uses of "descend" flagged with this meaning in Unbroken by Hillenbrand.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
3 —4 uses as in:
thieves descended upon us
Definition
to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
- Blackout descended, and a hush fell.p. 105.7
descended = arrived
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- Instead, he found a suitably irresponsible companion, donned his Olympic dress uniform, and descended on Berlin.p. 35.5
- He descended into a dream, and the Bird rose up over him.p. 366.7
- The search for him resumed, and the police descended again on the Watanabes.p. 369.0
descended = came suddenly
descended = fell or came
descended = came or arrived
There are no more uses of "descend" flagged with this meaning in Unbroken by Hillenbrand.
Typical Usage
(best examples)