See Also: descent(dictionary)
Descent(medicine)
descent(dictionary)
descent(encyclopedia)
Descent - Bobsledding(gambling)
homozygous by descent(medicine)
Direct Descent - Skiing(gambling)
DEAD-BORN, descent, persons(law)
COLLATERAL KINSMEN, descent, distribution(law)
COLLATIO BONORUM, descent, distribution(law)

Young-Helmholtz (iou) and descent (iou)


Young-Helmholtz (iou)



Young-Helmholtz noun. L19.
[from Thomas Young (see YOUNG'S MODULUS) + H. L. F. von HELMHOLTZ.]
Used attrib. to designate the theory that in the eye there are receptors sensitive to one of three colours (red, green, and violet), and that colour perception is due to the stimulation of these in different proportions.

descent (iou)



descent noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French descente, from descendre DESCEND after attente, vente from attendre, vendre.]
The fact of descending or being descended from an ancestor or predecessor; derivation, origin. ME.
J. Yeowell A chieftain of imperial descent. J. Fiske The descent of the genus equus from a five-toed mammal not larger than a pig.
a. A line of descent, lineage, race, stock. ME-E17.
b. A descendant; offspring, issue. L15-M17.
G. Chapman She went Up to the chamber, where the fair descent Of great Alcinous slept.
c. A generation. E16.
J. Ray Such as can prove their Gentility for three or four Descents.
Law. The passing of (real) property by inheritance, esp. in the event of intestacy. ME.
b. The transmission of titles, privileges, etc., or characteristics by inheritance. LME.
The action or an act of descending; downward movement. LME.
the Descent spec. the descent of Christ into hell.
J. Keill The great resistance they met with in their descent through the Air. S. Kitzinger The intense and thrilling sensations of the descent of the baby's head. Washington Post The 85-ton Skylab, whose slow descent from orbit threatened to bring it crashing to earth.
b. spec. The action or an act of climbing or travelling down a mountain, slope, stair, etc. E17.
c. = DESCENSION 4. M17-E18.
A downward slope. L16.
New York Times The variety of terrain that makes this descent so much fun for skiers.
b. The lowest part. rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.
c. A means of descending, a way leading downwards. M17.
A fall in any scale; fig. a decline to a lower state or condition. L16.
method of steepest descent(s): see STEEP adjective.
Milton Oh, foul descent! that I, who erst contended With gods to sit in the highest, am now constrained Into a Beast.
b. A lower stage; a degree below. L16-E18.
A sudden attack or invasion. E17.
J. R. Green A daring descent of the English forces upon Cadiz.
Comb.: descent group Anthropology a unit of social organization based on common descent.