As a Noun: 1. The period of time, usually considered to be about thirty years, that it takes for children to grow up and become adults and have children of their own. English = generation. 2. All the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on of any particular couple or community of people. English = descendants. 3. The children or grandchildren of a particular couple. English = offspring. 4. A sequence of events that come one after the other in time towards the present. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To be the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc, of a particular couple or community. English = (be) descended from. 2. To move from the past to the present. 3. Of events, to happen one after the other in time towards the present.