descendo Latin · revision 18109

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *skend-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [deːsˈkɛn.doː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deʃˈʃɛn.do]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēscendō''' (present infinitive dēscendere, perfect active dēscendī, supine dēscēnsum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ Valerius Antias and Laberius have a reduplicated perfect ''dēscendidī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ Inscriptions also have ''discendō'' and the perfect ''dēscīdī''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|dē-|scandō|t1=down|t2=to climb]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|scandō]] from [[itc-pro|*skand-e/o-|t=to ascend]], from [[ine-pro|*skend-|t=to jump up, ascend]], cognate with [[sa|स्कन्दति|tr=skándati|t=leaps]] and [[sga|sceinnid|t=jumps]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has ''quom dēscendat inde'', “when he comes down from there”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Dēscendere'' is “to come or go down, descend”, of things “to sink, settle”, and of heavenly bodies “to set”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) An army descends to the plain to fight (Caesar), and one goes down to the forum on business, or ''in causam'' “takes sides”.^(OLD 2012) It is used of things that hang or slope downwards, and of what goes deep, “to penetrate” (Virgil of fire spreading through the ships), also into the mind.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Figuratively it is “to stoop, lower oneself” to something, and “to resort to” stronger measures.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Of the voice it is “to drop in pitch”, and of quantities and qualities “to decrease, decline”; of time and other scales, “to come down”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it “to descend, come or go down”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|descend]] comes from it, partly through Old French, about 1300.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''quom dēscendat inde''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of a cutting sinking into the ground.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of armies coming down to fight.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of fire penetrating.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English [[m|en|descend]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To come or go down, [[m|en|descend]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) to set (of heavenly bodies).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To come down to battle (of an army); to enter a contest.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To go down (to the forum, to business);^(OLD 2012) ''in causam dēscendere'': to take sides.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To hang down; to [[m|en|slope]] down.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|penetrate]], sink in.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To stoop, lower oneself; to resort (to).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To drop (in pitch).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To decrease, decline; to come down (in time).^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[condēscendō]]

+ * [[dēscēnsiō]]

+ * [[dēscēnsōrius]]

+ * [[dēscēnsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ascendō]]

+ * [[scandō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}