descend-v; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: move (as if) by lowering

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1 DESCEND
NOTE: Includes metaphorical uses but not changes of state. Compare to sense 4.

Examples:
The balloon descended rapidly from the sky.
Night decended on the land.
The children descended the stairs one by one.
To the netherworld Pandora descended alone.
A suicidal moose descends on Alaska.

Mappings:
VerbNet: escape-51.1-3,meander-47.7
FrameNet: Motion_directional,Path_shape,Traversing
PropBank: descend.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 4

Sense Number 2: come from a lineage

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[patient] DESCEND FROM NP2[source]

Examples:
She descended from Okttor of Bohemia.
We descend from a long line of brutal Saxons!

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: do something considered below one's diginty

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent[human]] DESCEND

Examples:
I will not descend to the level of killing children.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: deteriorate in condition

Commentary: Is: DESCEND INTO Syntax Is: NP1[patient[human]] DESCEND INTO NP2[abstract]
NOTE: Compare to sense 1, NP1 must change its state not just move its location. Usually applies to worsening conditions, but may also apply to improving conditions, though no examples found.

Examples:
The once-famous author descended into obscurity upon her death.
I'm descending into madness!
Matthew descended into a depression that could not be relieved.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM