de·scent

/dıˈsɛnt/ noun, pl -scents

formal

1 [count] : the act or process of descending: such as

1 a : the act or process of going from a higher to a lower place or level

— usually singular

The climbers were faced with a dangerous descent in bad weather.

the submarine's descent

After only an hour of flight, the pilot announced our descent.

opposite ↑ascent

1 b : the act or process or changing to a worse state or condition

The book describes his descent into a deep depression after the death of his wife.

her slow descent to a life of addiction

2 [count] : a way of going down something : a downward slope, path, etc.

The only path that goes down to the river is a rather steep descent, so be careful.

3 [noncount] : the people in your family who lived before you were born : your ancestors

Many people in this area are of German descent. [=ancestry]

They claim to be of royal descent. [=they say that their ancestors were kings, queens, etc.]