DESCENDANT

descendant, descendent

(adjective) proceeding by descent from an ancestor; “descendent gene”

descendant, descendent

(adjective) going or coming down

descendant, descendent

(noun) a person considered as descended from some ancestor

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

descendant (not comparable)

descending from a biological ancestor.

proceeding from a figurative ancestor or source.

Usage notes

The adjective may be spelled either with ant or ent as the final syllable (see descendent). The noun may be spelled only with ant.

Antonyms

• ascendant, ascendent, ascending

Noun

descendant (plural descendants)

(literally) One who is the progeny of a specified person, at any distance of time or through any number of generations.

(figuratively) A thing that derives directly from a given precursor or source.

(biology) A later evolutionary type.

(linguistics) A language that is descended from another.

(linguistics) A word or form in one language that is descended from a counterpart in an ancestor language.

Usage notes

The adjective may be spelled either with ant or ent as the final syllable (see descendent). The noun may be spelled only with ant.

Synonyms

• (offspring): afterbear, offspring, scion, and see child & relative

Antonyms

• ascendant

• ancestor

• forebear

Source: Wiktionary


De*scend"ant, a. Etym: [F. descendant, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendent.]

Definition: Descendent.

De*scend"ant, n.

Definition: One who descends, as offspring, however remotely; -- correlative to ancestor or ascendant. Our first parents and their descendants. Hale. The descendant of so many kings and emperors. Burke.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 April 2025

BRIGHT

(adjective) made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow; “bright silver candlesticks”; “a burnished brass knocker”; “she brushed her hair until it fell in lustrous auburn waves”; “rows of shining glasses”; “shiny black patents”


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Coffee Trivia

You can overdose on coffee if you drink about 30 cups in a brief period to get close to a lethal dosage of caffeine.

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