Definition of the word descent

The word "descent" originated from the Old French word "descent", which is derived from the Latin word "descendere", meaning "to go down". This Latin word is a combination of "de" (down) and "scendere" (to go). In English, the word "descent" has been used since the 14th century and initially referred to the act of going down or descending, such as descending a staircase or a mountain. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include other contexts, such as a descent into someone's condition (as in a descent into madness) or a descent into a particular group or category (e.g., a descent into poverty). Today, the word "descent" is used in various contexts, including biology (evolutionary descent), astronomy (descent into the atmosphere), and even music (descent into chaos).