/di sen"deuhnt/ , n.
1. a person or animal that is descended from a specific ancestor; an offspring.
2. something deriving in appearance, function, or general character from an earlier form.
3. an adherent who follows closely the teachings, methods, practices, etc., of an earlier master, as in art, music, philosophy, etc.; disciple.
4. Astrol.
a. the point opposite the ascendant.
b. the point of the ecliptic or the sign and degree of the zodiac setting below the western horizon at the time of a birth or of an event.
c. the cusp of the seventh house.
adj.
5. descending; descendent.
[ 1425-75; late ME descendaunt (adj.) descendant, prp. of descendre. See DESCEND, -ANT ]