%scend%

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 ]

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 ]

a. Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. -- As*cend"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Ascending latitude (Astron.), the increasing latitude of a planet. Ferguson. --
Ascending line (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line direct ascending. --
Ascending node having, that node of the moon or a planet wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the northern node. Herschel. --
Ascending series. (Math.) (a) A series arranged according to the ascending powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is greater than the preceding. --
Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian. [1913 Webster]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Condescended; p. pr. & vb. n. Condescending. ] [ F. condescendre, LL. condescendere, fr. L. con- + descendere. See Descend. ] 1. To stoop or descend; to let one's self down; to submit; to waive the privilege of rank or dignity; to accommodate one's self to an inferior. “Condescend to men of low estate.” Rom. xii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

Can they think me so broken, so debased
With corporal servitude, that my mind ever
Will condescend to such absurd commands? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spain's mighty monarch,
In gracious clemency, does condescend,
On these conditions, to become your friend. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Often used ironically, implying an assumption of superiority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those who thought they were honoring me by condescending to address a few words to me. F. W. Robinson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To consent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All parties willingly condescended heruento. R. Carew.

Syn. -- To yield; stoop; descend; deign; vouchsafe. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Cf. F. condescendance. ] Condescension. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. exhibiting an attitude of superiority; patronizing; -- used of behavior or attitude.
Syn. -- arch, patronizing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a condescending manner. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & adv. [ It., from crescere to increase. See Crescent. ] (Mus.) With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone; -- a direction for the performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word on the score. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) (a) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with which a passage is performed. (b) A passage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. & adv. [ It. ] (Mus.) With decreasing volume of sound; -- a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n. Descending. ] [ F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- + scandere to climb. See Scan. ] 1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to plunge; to fall; to incline downward; -- the opposite of ascend. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rain descended, and the floods came. Matt. vii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

We will here descend to matters of later date. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To enter mentally; to retire. [ Poetic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] with holiest meditations fed,
Into himself descended. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to come suddenly and with violence; -- with on or upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

And on the suitors let thy wrath descend. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous, or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he descended from his high estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To pass from the more general or important to the particular or less important matters to be considered. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived; to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by inheritance; as, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown descends to the heir. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Anat.) To move toward the south, or to the southward. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Mus.) To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder. [ 1913 Webster ]

But never tears his cheek descended. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. descendant, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendent. ] Descendent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who descends, as offspring, however remotely; -- correlative to ancestor or ascendant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our first parents and their descendants. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

The descendant of so many kings and emperors. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. all of the offspring of a given progenitor.
Syn. -- posterity. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. descendens, -entis, p. pr. of descendre. Cf. Descendant. ] Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source. [ 1913 Webster ]

More than mortal grace
Speaks thee descendent of ethereal race. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who descends. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being descendible; capability of being transmitted from ancestors; as, the descendibility of an estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Admitting descent; capable of being descended. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That may descend from an ancestor to an heir. “A descendant estate.” Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to descent; moving downwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descending constellations or
Descending signs (Astron.), those through which the planets descent toward the south. --
Descending node (Astron.), that point in a planet's orbit where it intersects the ecliptic in passing southward. --
Descending series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding one; also, a series arranged according to descending powers of a quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a descending manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Inter-, and Ascend. ] (Math.) Having exponents which are radical quantities; -- said of certain powers; as, x√2, or x√a. [ 1913 Webster ]

Interscendent series, a series whose terms are interscendent quantities. Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To rise, mount, or climb again. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To ascend or mount again; to reach by ascending again. [ 1913 Webster ]

He mounts aloft, and reascends the skies. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Pref. re- + descend: cf. F. redescendre. ] To descend again. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Transcended; p. pr. & vb. n. Transcending. ] [ L. transcendere, transcensum; trans beyond, over + scandere to climb. See Scan. ] 1. To rise above; to surmount; as, lights in the heavens transcending the region of the clouds. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pass over; to go beyond; to exceed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such popes as shall transcend their limits. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

8. To surpass; to outgo; to excel; to exceed. [ 1913 Webster ]

How much her worth transcended all her kind. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To climb; to mount. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be transcendent; to excel. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }[ Cf. L. transcendentia, F. transcendance. ] 1. The quality or state of being transcendent; superior excellence; supereminence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Augustinian theology rests upon the transcendence of Deity at its controlling principle. A. V. G. Allen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Elevation above truth; exaggeration. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

“Where transcendencies are more allowed.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. transcendens, -entis, p. pr. of transcendere to transcend: cf. F. transcendant, G. transcendent. ] 1. Very excellent; superior or supreme in excellence; surpassing others; as, transcendent worth; transcendent valor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Clothed with transcendent brightness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Kantian Philos.) Transcending, or reaching beyond, the limits of human knowledge; -- applied to affirmations and speculations concerning what lies beyond the reach of the human intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which surpasses or is supereminent; that which is very excellent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A transcendentalist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. transcendantal, G. transcendental. ] 1. Supereminent; surpassing others; as, transcendental being or qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Philos.) In the Kantian system, of or pertaining to that which can be determined a priori in regard to the fundamental principles of all human knowledge. What is transcendental, therefore, transcends empiricism; but is does not transcend all human knowledge, or become transcendent. It simply signifies the a priori or necessary conditions of experience which, though affording the conditions of experience, transcend the sphere of that contingent knowledge which is acquired by experience. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Vaguely and ambitiously extravagant in speculation, imagery, or diction. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In mathematics, a quantity is said to be transcendental relative to another quantity when it is expressed as a transcendental function of the latter; thus, ax, 102x, log x, sin x, tan x, etc., are transcendental relative to x. [ 1913 Webster ]

Transcendental curve (Math.), a curve in which one ordinate is a transcendental function of the other. --
Transcendental equation (Math.), an equation into which a transcendental function of one of the unknown or variable quantities enters. --
Transcendental function. (Math.) See under Function. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Transcendental, Empirical. These terms, with the corresponding nouns, transcendentalism and empiricism, are of comparatively recent origin. Empirical refers to knowledge which is gained by the experience of actual phenomena, without reference to the principles or laws to which they are to be referred, or by which they are to be explained. Transcendental has reference to those beliefs or principles which are not derived from experience, and yet are absolutely necessary to make experience possible or useful. Such, in the better sense of the term, is the transcendental philosophy, or transcendentalism. Each of these words is also used in a bad sense, empiricism applying to that one-sided view of knowledge which neglects or loses sight of the truths or principles referred to above, and trusts to experience alone; transcendentalism, to the opposite extreme, which, in its deprecation of experience, loses sight of the relations which facts and phenomena sustain to principles, and hence to a kind of philosophy, or a use of language, which is vague, obscure, fantastic, or extravagant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. transcendantalisme, G. transcendentalismus. ] 1. (Kantian Philos.) The transcending, or going beyond, empiricism, and ascertaining a priori the fundamental principles of human knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ As Schelling and Hegel claim to have discovered the absolute identity of the objective and subjective in human knowledge, or of things and human conceptions of them, the Kantian distinction between transcendent and transcendental ideas can have no place in their philosophy; and hence, with them, transcendentalism claims to have a true knowledge of all things, material and immaterial, human and divine, so far as the mind is capable of knowing them. And in this sense the word transcendentalism is now most used. It is also sometimes used for that which is vague and illusive in philosophy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ambitious and imaginative vagueness in thought, imagery, or diction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. transcendantaliste. ] One who believes in transcendentalism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being transcendental. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a transcendental manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a transcendent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Transcendence. [ 1913 Webster ]