Also 7 assent. [(Not in Fr.) f. ASCEND v., on the analogy of descent (see quot. 1628 in 3), a. F. descente, itself an imitative formation on descendre, after etymological forms like vente, attente, f. vendre, attendre: L. vendita gave F. vente, but L. ascensa gave F. ascense, Eng. ASCENCE.]
1. gen. The act of ascending, mounting, or soaring up; upward movement, rise.
1614. Overbury, A Wife, etc. (1638), 301. The first degree of his ascent.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 224. To him with swift ascent he up return’d.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Ascent of Fluids is particularly understood of their rising above their own level.
1864. R. Chambers, Bk. Days, II. 347. He had effected an ascent [in a balloon] at Edinburgh.
b. fig. Rise in thought, estimation, characteristic quality, social station, etc.; advancement.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. ii. 28. His assent is not by such easie degrees.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., III. II. (1765), 225. What higher Combinations … subsist, we know not. Their Gradation and Ascent ’tis impossible we should discover.
1790. Gibbon, Misc. Wks. (1814), III. 512. His ascent to one of the most eminent dignities of the republic.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., IV. V. xx. § 23. 368. French and English art in precipitate decline, Italian in steady ascent.
2. esp. The act of climbing or travelling up; the going up a mountain, stairs, a river, etc.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Mountain, Called the needle Mountain … being supposed impracticable to the ascent of any one.
1844. Dickens, Lett. (1880), I. 127. We began the ascent of the Simplon that same night.
1850. P. Cunningham, Handbk. Lond., 384. The rest of the ascent is a dirty and somewhat fatiguing task.
b. fig.
1644. Milton, Educ. (1738), 136. The right path of a virtuous and noble education; laborious indeed at the first ascent.
1879. Tennyson, Lover’s T., 29. To both there came The joy of life in steepness overcome, And victories of ascent.
3. A going back in time or in order of genealogical succession; † concr. a single step back in genealogy (obs.).
1628. Coke, On Litt., 11 a. Hee commeth to the land by collateral discent and not by lineall ascent [Littleton, par collateral discent, et nemy par lineall ascention; trans. 1574 discent … ascension].
1654. Gayton, Fest. Notes, II. v. 57. Shee could scarce run two ascents without the help of a Town or Parish, where her grandfather was found.
1877. Lytteil, Landmarks, IV. ii. 191. So does our ascent into the Past discover a beauty … till then unperceived.
4. Method or way of ascending.
1600. Holland, Livy, 995 (R.). Dangerous places, steepe and hard of ascent.
1712. Parnell, Spect., No. 460, ¶ 3. A Hill, green, flowery, and of an easy ascent.
1850. P. Cunningham, Handbk. Lond., 384. The ascent to the ball is by 616 steps.
5. concr. A way by which one may ascend; upward slope, acclivity; a flight of steps.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings x. 5. His ascent by which hee went vp vnto the house of the Lord.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 545. Winding with one ascent Accessible from Earth.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Garden, A gentle Ascent or a Plain are healthy Expositions.
1762. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 56. The ascent of steps from the hall.
c. 1854. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., iii. 190. Up that long ascent He came.
† 6. A rising ground, an eminence. Obs.
1663. Flagellum or O. Cromwell (1672), 181. There was an Ascent raised where a Chair and Canopy of State was set.
1693. Bentley, Atheism, Boyle Lect., 40 (J.). Diversified with depressed Valleys and swelling Ascents.
¶ For ASCENDANT.
Chaucer’s Wife’s Prol., 613 (Wright). Myn ascent [Six-text MSS. ascendent] was Taur, and Mars therinne.
1686. W. de Britaine, Hum. Prud., § 20. Jupiter is Lord of that Ascent.
