Definition of descendant
Alternative forms
Etymology
Middle English dessendaunte, from Middle French, from Latin dēscendēns, present participle of descendere, itself from dē + scandere ("climb, ascend").
Pronunciation
Adjective
descendant (comparative more descendant, superlative most descendant)
- descending from a biological ancestor
- proceeding from a figurative ancestor or source
Antonyms
- ascendant, ascendent, ascending
Noun
descendant (plural descendants)
- (literally) One who is the progeny of someone at any distance of time
The patriarch survived many descendants: five children, a dozen grandchildren, even a great grandchild.
- (figuratively) One which derives directly from a given precursor or source
This famous medieval manuscript has many descendants
- (biology) A later evolutionary type
Dogs evolved as descendants of early wolves.
Antonyms
Derived terms
- direct descendant
- indirect descendant
See also
- offspring
- offshoot
- progeny
References:
- Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
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