---
title: descent — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «descent» in the school dictionary: A descent is a way or act of going down, like going down a hill, stairs or from the sky. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# descent

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** descent, way, family, slope, plane, climbers · **What happens:** be, go down, mean, come, go, begin · **To what, where:** way, hill, family background, places, slope, descent

<!-- .vabout -->
«descent» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [descent in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/descent.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A descent is a way or act of going down, like going down a hill, stairs or from the sky.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:m1:1
# text = A descent is a way or act of going down, like going down a hill, stairs or from the sky.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
10	down	down	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
13	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	conj	_	_
14	down	down	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	hill	hill	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
18	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	conj	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	from	from	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a descent | a way or act |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go down** | gerund | a way or act *not said here* |  |  |  |  | down *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |
| 3 | **go down** | gerund | a way or act *not said here* | a hill and stairs or the sky |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient hill=Extent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Descent means your family background, the people and places your family comes from.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:m2:1
# text = Descent means your family background, the people and places your family comes from.
1	Descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
4	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	background	background	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
11	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
13	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
14	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Descent | your family background and the people and places |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent background=Topic |
| 2 | **come** | present | your family | places *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location place=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A descent can be a slope that goes downward.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:m3:1
# text = A descent can be a slope that goes downward.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	slope	slope	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	goes	go	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	downward	downward	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a descent | a slope |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **go** | present | a slope |  |  |  |  | downward *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plane began its descent to the airport.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x1:1
# text = The plane began its descent to the airport.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	airport	airport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the plane | plane's descent |  |  |  | to the airport | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent descent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **descend** |  | plane |  |  |  |  |  | nom descent «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The climbers made a slow descent down the icy mountain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x2:1
# text = The climbers made a slow descent down the icy mountain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	climbers	climber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	slow	slow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	icy	icy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	mountain	mountain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | the climbers | a slow descent |  |  |  | down the icy mountain | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset descent=Product |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The path has a steep descent to the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x3:1
# text = The path has a steep descent to the beach.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	steep	steep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the path | a steep descent |  |  |  | to the beach | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent descent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is of Italian descent.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x4:1
# text = She is of Italian descent.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	Italian	Italian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | She |  |  |  |  | of Italian descent | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The balloon's descent took ten minutes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x5:1
# text = The balloon's descent took ten minutes.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	minutes	minute	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the balloon's descent |  |  |  | minute |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **descend** |  | the balloon |  |  |  |  |  | nom descent «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the descent the bus went very slowly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x6:1
# text = On the descent the bus went very slowly.
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	very	very	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	slowly	slowly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the bus |  |  | the descent |  | slowly *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme on descent=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In later times the noblest Theban families proudly claimed their descent from these mighty earth-born warriors.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:descent:x7:1
# text = In later times the noblest Theban families proudly claimed their descent from these mighty earth-born warriors.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	later	late	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	3	amod	_	_
3	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
5	noblest	noble	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	amod	_	_
6	Theban	Theban	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
8	proudly	proudly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	claimed	claim	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	descent	descent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
13	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	18	det	_	_
14	mighty	mighty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
15	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	18	amod	_	_
18	warriors	warrior	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **claim** *speech: other* | past | the noblest Theban families | families's descent |  | this mighty born warriors | time | proudly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent descent=Topic |
| 2 | **bear** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **descend** |  | families *= family* |  |  |  |  |  | nom descent «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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