ascendere

Ascendere is a Latin verb meaning to go up, to rise, or to climb. It is used for both physical ascent and metaphorical rising, such as climbing to a higher position or ascending in rank. In classical Latin it belongs to the third conjugation and forms the standard principal parts of a verb in that class.

Etymology and derivatives: Ascendere provides the root for several English words, including ascend (to go upward), ascent (the act of rising or a climb), and ascension or ascendant (relating to rising or rising influence). The term also appears in religious and scholarly contexts as the basis for words and phrases describing rising, such as the Ascension of Jesus in Christian tradition. The sense of upward movement is common across related Romance languages, which developed verbs descended from the Latin ascendere.

Usage and context: In Latin usage, ascendere commonly takes a direct object or uses prepositions to indicate what is being climbed or what one rises to, and it can be employed metaphorically to indicate advancement or promotion. In English and other languages, the forms ascend, ascent, ascension, and ascending cover physical movement, elevation in status, and ceremonial or religious rising. In astronomy and geometry, ascending or ascending node refers to the portion of a path that moves upward through a reference plane, such as the orbit of a celestial body crossing northward.

See also: Ascension and ascendant are common English derivatives; ascent is the noun for a climb, while ascension often carries religious or ceremonial connotations.