Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “descend” come from?

Descend comes from Middle English decenden, from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, composed of the prefix de and the verb scandere meaning to climb.

descend (English): To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move...

Definitions

  1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move...

Ancestry of “descend”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdescenden—
2Latindēscendere—
3Latindē-—
4Latindē—
5Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
6Latinposteablative singular of postis
7Proto-Italicposti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “descend”

  • descendeth
  • descender
  • descendible
  • descendancy
  • redescend
  • descendest
  • descendency
  • descendable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →