different between descent vs lineage

English

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-Norman descente, from Anglo-Norman descendre (“to descend”); see descend. Compare ascent, ascend. Doublet of desant.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??s?nt/
• Homophones: dissent (for some dialects)

Noun

descent (countable and uncountable, plural descents)

1. An instance of descending; act of coming down.
   • 2012, July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track

     The next one surrendered his bike, only for that, too, to give him a second flat as he started the descent.

2. A way down.

   We had difficulty in finding the correct descent.

3. A sloping passage or incline.

   The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.

4. Lineage or hereditary derivation.

   Our guide was of Welsh descent.

5. A drop to a lower status or condition; decline. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

   After that, the holiday went into a steep descent.

6. A falling upon or invasion.
7. (topology) A particular extension of the idea of gluing. See Descent (mathematics).

Usage notes

• Sometimes confused with decent.

Antonyms

• (going down): ascent

Derived terms

• hypodescent, hyperdescent

Related terms

• descend

Translations

Further reading

• descent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• descent in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• cedents, scented

English

Alternative forms

• linage

Etymology

From Middle English linage, from Old French linage, from ligne, from Latin linea (“line”); equivalent to line +? -age.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?l?.ni.?d?/

Noun

lineage (countable and uncountable, plural lineages)

1. Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage.
2. (advertising) A number of lines of text in a column.
3. A fee or rate paid per line of text.

Related terms

• line
• lineal
• linear

Translations

See also

• genealogy

References

• lineage in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• lineage in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.