descender
noun[C]
descendernoun[C](LETTER)
languagespecialized
partof a written ortypedletterthatreacheslowerthan thebottomof aletter"x", forexamplethelowerpartof theletters"g", "p", or "y":
It'simportantthat theheightof ascenders and descendersremainsconstant, oryourfontwilllookamess.
Thename"Vermeer" has no descenders.
Compare
ascender
- In earlymanuscripts, before thedevelopmentof ascenders forletterssuch as "b", "d" and "h", and descenders for "p", "q", "y", and "z", manykindsofmisreadingarepossible.
- Thepointsizeis theheightof thetypemeasuredfrom thetopof thetallestascender to thebottomof thelowestdescender.
Lettering & alphabets
- ABC
- all caps
- alphabetically
- ascender
- Braillist
- camel case
- cursive
- hieroglyphics
- initial
- phonetic
- pictogram
- pictograph
- pinyin
- roman
- Roman alphabet
- runic
- script
- shorthand
- upper case
- vowel
descendernoun[C](GOING DOWN HILL)
sportsspecialized
apersonwho is going down ahillorslope,especiallyon abicycleduring arace:
Thebestdescendersexhibitalmostsuicidalbravery.
- Afearlessdownhillridercan get twominutesaheadof acautiousdescender in just 20kilometres.
- The Tour de France has time-trialers,roadspecialists,climbers, descenders and sprinters allracingtogether.
Competitors & participants in sports & games
- back four
- baller
- ballplayer
- base jumper
- benchwarmer
- challenger
- jumper
- keeper
- longboarder
- major league
- mid-table
- midfield anchor
- midfield diamond
- racer
- retire
- trialist
- triathlete
- triple jumper
- triple threat
- utility