2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. (Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day.
3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation. Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. Sir T. Browne. Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the day on which commemorated our Savior's ascension into heaven after his resurrection; — called also Holy Thursday. — Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial, counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the meridian with the star; — expressed either in degrees or in time. — Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator, intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator which rises together with a star, in an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is little used in modern astronomy.
ASCENSIONAL
As*cen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to ascension; connected with ascent; ascensive; tending upward; as, the ascensional power of a balloon. Ascensional difference (Astron.), the difference between oblique and right ascension; — used chiefly as expressing the difference between the time of the rising or setting of a body and six o'clock, or six hours from its meridian passage.
ASCENSIVE
As*cen"sive, a. Etym: [See Ascend.]
1. Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise. Owen.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Augmentative; intensive. Ellicott.
ASCENT As*cent". Etym: [Formed like descent, as if from a F. ascente, fr. a verb ascendre, fr. L. ascendere. See Ascend, Descent.]
1. The act of rising; motion upward; rise; a mounting upward; as, he made a tedious ascent; the ascent of vapors from the earth. To him with swift ascent he up returned. Milton.