in general, is the tendency of a body from a higher to a lower place; thus all bodies, unless otherwise determined by a force superior to their gravity, descend towards the centre of the earth. See Mechanics.

or Discent, in law, an order or method whereby lands or tenements are derived to any man from his ancestors.

in genealogy, the order or succession of descendants in a line or family; or their distance from a common progenitor; thus we say, one descent, two descents, &c.

in heraldry, is used to express the coming down of anything from above; as, a lion en descent, is a lion with his head towards the base points, and his heels towards one of the corners of the chief, as if he were leaping down from some high place.