Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Descend, v. Also: decent, desend, des(c)hend. [ME. descend (c 1300), decend, dessend, OF. descendre, L. dēscendere. Cf. Discend v.]

1. intr. To come or go down from a higher to a lower level or place. 1427 Melville Chart. 245.
Hafand fre vsche of water … descendand throw the landis of the said Schire Ione 1456 Hay II. 121/5.
The kembing of thy hede … gerris thame descend in thy body a1500 Henr. Orph. 280.
Quhen he dulkit, the water wald descend c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 6.
Lucifer, that fra the hevin descendit 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 367.
Descendand down to the brek of the mos 1562-3 Winȝet I. 20/8.
We exhort ȝow … to descend from the hie skyis … amang men 1565 Bamff Chart. 99.
Ane stryp or runner desending northerlie down fra the Craberry Myrefig. 1456 Hay I. 57/17.
A vice that gerris oft tymes the curage of mony noble knycht descend full lawe 1562-3 Winȝet I. 107/21.
That sindry at this praesent ar descendit to sik beistlie ruidnes … that thai [etc.]

2. To be derived by generation or lineage. 1375 Barb. i. 61.
Ony male That were in lyne ewyn descendand c1420 Wynt. iv. 1818.
Fra this Fergus, ewyn be lyne, Kenyaucht descendit Makalpyne Ib. viii. 424.
In onykyne lyne down cumand Fra the stok, or than descendand c1515 Asl. MS. I. 195/8.
All the kingis of Yngland … ar descendit and cummyn dovne of the samyn tyrand 1535 Stewart 27.
Thair nobill deidis, and of thair ring the space. Ay lineall descendand to his grace a1578 Pitsc. I. 59/12.
Baith descendit of the house of Callender Ib. 143/28.
The Allmantis … quhome of scho was desendit 1663 Wemyss Corr. 110.
Ther was never any deshendet of your Lordships hous who desayers mor your L'ships honor that I doue 1690 Melville Chart. 214.
The said noble earle doeth receave in protection … . his father, and all these deschended of their familie

3. = Condescend v. 2 and 4. 1553 Blackfriars Perth 234.
Lat the witnesses descend in speciale quhat dampnage … the complenaris has sustenit 1601 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 173.
[A decision of the presbytery] quhairunto the laird descendit and promisit to keip