descending
UK: dɪˈsɛndɪŋ | US: dɪˈsɛndɪŋ
adj. moving or sloping downward
v. (present participle of descend) moving from a higher to a lower position
The word descending originates from Latin descendere, combining de- (down) and scandere (to climb). The morpheme scend evolved into English through Old French, retaining its core meaning of movement. The -ing suffix marks its present participle form, indicating ongoing action. This logical progression—from "climbing down" to generalized downward motion—reflects the word's clear structural and semantic evolution.
The hikers followed a descending trail into the valley.
The plane began descending toward the runway.
She sorted the files in descending order by date.
Dark clouds signaled the descending storm.
His voice took on a descending tone as he finished the speech.