descender

Everyday

1. (writing, typing) The part of a lower-case letter that goes below the line, as in g, j, p, q and y; also a letter that has such a part. tree →
2. A person or thing that goes down: «a fast descender» (cyclist or skier). tree →
3. (climbing, abseiling) A metal device that controls the speed of going down a rope. tree →

In the lessons

In handwriting lessons, children learn letters with ascenders (b, d, h, k, l, t — going up) and descenders (g, j, p, q, y — going down), and that descenders should dip below the line. In design and fonts, descenders help readers recognise word shapes. In sport, cyclists who are fast downhill are good descenders. Phrases: «ascenders and descenders», «a good descender».

Examples

• The letters g, j, p, q and y all have descenders. tree →
• Make sure your descenders go below the line. tree →
• In our handwriting book, ascenders go up and descenders go down. tree →
• The cyclist was a brilliant descender on the mountain roads. tree →
• The climber clipped the descender onto the rope. tree →
• In this font, the descenders are very long and curly. tree →

Note

Opposite: «ascender» (letters that go up, like b, d, h). Spelled -er, not -or. Related verb «descend» (go down) and noun «descendant» (a child, grandchild or later relative).