v. t. To go or move upward upon or along; to climb; to mount; to go up the top of; as, to ascend a hill, a ladder, a tree, a river, a throne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending. ] [ L. ascendere; ad + scandere to climb, mount. See Scan. ] 1. To move upward; to mount; to go up; to rise; -- opposed to descend. [ 1913 Webster ]

Higher yet that star ascends. Bowring. [ 1913 Webster ]

I ascend unto my father and your father. John xx. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

Formerly used with up. [ 1913 Webster ]

The smoke of it ascended up to heaven. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To rise, in a figurative sense; to proceed from an inferior to a superior degree, from mean to noble objects, from particulars to generals, from modern to ancient times, from one note to another more acute, etc.; as, our inquiries ascend to the remotest antiquity; to ascend to our first progenitor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To rise; mount; climb; scale; soar; tower. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being ascended. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. Same as Ascendency. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ascendant, L. ascendens; p. pr. of ascendere. ] 1. Ascent; height; elevation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sciences that were then in their highest ascendant. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astrol.) The horoscope, or that degree of the ecliptic which rises above the horizon at the moment of one's birth; supposed to have a commanding influence on a person's life and fortune. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Hence the phrases
To be in the ascendant, to have commanding power or influence, and
Lord of the ascendant, one who has possession of such power or influence; as, to rule, for a while, lord of the ascendant. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Superiority, or commanding influence; ascendency; as, one man has the ascendant over another. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chievres had acquired over the mind of the young monarch the ascendant not only of a tutor, but of a parent. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy or degrees of kindred; a relative in the ascending line; a progenitor; -- opposed to descendant. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Governing or controlling influence; the state that exists when one person or group has power over another; domination; power. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

An undisputed ascendency. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Custom has an ascendency over the understanding. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Control; authority; influence; sway; dominion; prevalence; domination; dominance; ascendance; ascendence. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. 1. Rising toward the zenith; above the horizon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The constellation . . . about that time ascendant. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rising; ascending. Ruskin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Superior; surpassing; ruling. [ 1913 Webster ]

An ascendant spirit over him. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself against accusations, . . . no man could possibly hold an ascendent position. Grote. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. tending or directed upward.
Syn. -- ascendant, ascensive. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

rooted and ascendant strength like that of foliage. John Ruskin [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. having the most important influence.
Syn. -- ascendant, dominating, prestigious. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. position or state of being dominant or in control. that idea was in the ascendant.
Syn. -- ascendant. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote that a grandparent).
Syn. -- ancestor, ascendant, antecedent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. ascendibilis. ] Capable of being ascended; climbable. [ 1913 Webster ]