| 1. | to move, climb, or go upward; mount; rise: The airplane ascended into the clouds. |
| 2. | to slant upward. |
| 3. | to rise to a higher point, rank, or degree; proceed from an inferior to a superior degree or level: to ascend to the presidency. |
| 4. | to go toward the source or beginning; go back in time. |
| 5. | Music. to rise in pitch; pass from any tone to a higher one. |
| 6. | to go or move upward upon or along; climb; mount: to ascend a lookout tower; to ascend stairs. |
| 7. | to gain or succeed to; acquire: to ascend the throne. |
as·cend (ə-sěnd') v. as·cend·ed, as·cend·ing, as·cends v. intr.
[Middle English ascenden, from Old French ascendre, from Latin ascendere : ad-, ad- + scandere, to climb; see skand- in Indo-European roots.] as·cend'a·ble, as·cend'i·ble adj. |