好词典

descend

UK //dɪˈsend//US //dɪˈsend//

词源

源自拉丁语 'descendere',由 'de-'(向下)和 'scandere'(爬)组成,13世纪通过古法语进入英语。

verb

❶ 从高处移动到低处,通常指人或物体向下移动的动作。可以用于具体或抽象的下降过程。

“The plane started to descend towards the airport.”

(飞机开始向机场降落。)

“She descended the stairs carefully with her heavy luggage.”

(她小心翼翼地提着沉重的行李走下楼梯。)

❶ 指从较高社会地位、道德水平或质量状态下滑到较低水平,带有负面含义。

“The debate descended into chaos when personal insults were thrown.”

(当出现人身攻击时,辩论陷入了混乱。)

“He feared his son would descend into a life of crime.”

(他担心儿子会堕落走上犯罪道路。)

同义词:fall, drop, sink, decline, deteriorate

常见短语

descend from — 表示从某个祖先或源头传承下来,常用于讨论家族血统或事物起源。

“She descends from a long line of musicians.”

(她出身于一个历史悠久的音乐世家。)

descend upon — 突然大量到达某地,通常用于描述人群或事物的突然聚集,可能带有压迫感。

“Reporters descended upon the small town after the scandal broke.”

(丑闻爆发后,记者们蜂拥而至这个小镇。)