First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
ascend
verb as·cend \ə-ˈsend\
: to go up : to rise or move toward the sky
: to slope or lead upward
: to rise to a higher or more powerful position in a government, company, etc.
Full Definition of ASCEND
intransitive verb
1
a : to move upward <the balloon ascended> b : to slope upward
2
a : to rise from a lower level or degree <ascend to power> b : to go back in time or in order of genealogical succession
transitive verb
1
: to go or move up <ascend a staircase>
2
: to succeed to : occupy <ascend the throne>
— as·cend·able or as·cend·ible \-ˈsen-də-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of ASCEND
Middle English, from Latin ascendere, from ad- + scandere to climb — more at scan
Related to ASCEND
Rhymes with ASCEND
addend, amend, append, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
ASCEND Defined for Kids
ascend
verb as·cend \ə-ˈsend\
as·cend·edas·cend·ing
Definition of ASCEND for Kids
1
: to go or move up <We ascended the hill.>
2
: to rise to a higher or more powerful position <Abraham Lincoln ascended to the presidency in 1861.>
Word Root of ASCEND
The Latin word scandere, meaning “to climb,” gives us the root scend. Words from the Latin scandere have something to do with climbing. To ascend is to climb upward. To descend is to climb downward. To transcend is to rise above or climb over something's limits.
Synonym Discussion of ASCEND
ascend, mount, and climb mean to move upward or toward the top. ascend is used for a gradual upward movement. <We slowly ascended the staircase.> mount is used for reaching the very top of something. <Soldiers mounted the hill and placed a flag there.> climb is used when effort and often the hands and feet are needed to move up something. <Explorers climbed the rugged mountain.>
Medical Dictionary
ascend
intransitive verb as·cend \ə-ˈsend\
Medical Definition of ASCEND
: to move upward: as a : to conduct nerve impulses toward or to the brain <nerve fibers that ascend to a nucleus of the brain> <ascending and descending tracts> b : to affect the extremities and especially the lower limbs first and then the central nervous system <ascending paralysis>
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