Middle English Dictionary Entry
dē̆scense n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dē̆scense n. Also decens & discens, discence, dissence & (Latinized) descensus. |
| Etymology | OF descens(e & L dēscensus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Downward movement; a downward rush or swoop, a fall; setting (of the sun, a star); (b) an attack or assault; (c) a slope; an elevation.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2730 : His fery stedis..drawe doun ful lowe His golden wayn..In his discence ful fer out of her siȝt.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5940 : In his clees þe offringe vp he [an eagle] toke..In his discence makynge swiche a soun [etc.].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.1177 : In discence and fallyng off the stonys, Off the werkmen ful many a man was ded.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)678 : Thylke sterrys..Which by her concours and mevyng circuleer In her discens westyng vndir wavys.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)51 : Sodeynly þe cartes go down and..so, what for þe grete descence..fro þe hill [etc.].
b
- a1500(1444) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)266 : And called togedre all þerles..and barons of his cuntree..for to ordeigne for his descense towarde Burdeaux.
c
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.40/31 : Therfore, from the highe descense, of heuynnes..hedir I [the Virgin] descende.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Jerus.(Bod 565)p.13 : In the decens of that hyll Cryst prechyd vn to hys pepyll.
2.
(a) Descent from an ancestor; line of ~, lineal ~, lineage; (b) transmission (of a heritage).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)432 : Þe feiþ which adam receyued fro þin aungel..descendid into his children and into her children þoruȝ a fer distaunce in lyne of descense, And þe feiþ which Noe receyued..descendid into hise children.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.794 : Shulde I thanne despyse that heigh degree..Whiche is eke come be discens on-to me?
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)31.30 (v.1:p.225) : This blissid Vincent, aftir nature, From noble blode toke his descense.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)273 : I, Herry Lancastir, chalenge the Crown..as for descensus of the real blod of Kyng Herry, by whech rite God hath graunted me [etc.].
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.281 : The linealle descense of the prosapy or kynrede [Trev.: lynage; L linea prosapiæ] of Feramundus faylede by men.
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.402 : Apparaunce of worldli lordship bi dissence of heritage.