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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | ascendere, from ad- 'to' + scandere 'to climb' |
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as‧cend
1 [intransitive] formal to move up through the air [≠ descend]: 
The plane ascended rapidly.
The plane ascended rapidly.2 [transitive] written to climb something or move to a higher position [≠ descend]: Without a word, he began to ascend the stairs.
Without a word, he began to ascend the stairs.3 [intransitive] written to lead up to a higher position [≠ descend]: The road ascends steeply from the harbour.
The road ascends steeply from the harbour.4 [intransitive and transitive] formal to move to a more important or powerful job. : The number of women decreases as you ascend the professional hierarchy.
The number of women decreases as you ascend the professional hierarchy.6 if a group of things are arranged in ascending order, each thing is higher, or greater in amount, than the one before it
