ASCENDENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ascendent mean? 

• ASCENDENT (noun)
  The noun ASCENDENT has 2 senses:

1. position or state of being dominant or in control

2. someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

  Familiarity information: ASCENDENT used as a noun is rare.

• ASCENDENT (adjective)
  The adjective ASCENDENT has 2 senses:

1. tending or directed upward

2. most powerful or important or influential

  Familiarity information: ASCENDENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ASCENDENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Position or state of being dominant or in control

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ascendant; ascendent

Context example:

that idea was in the ascendant

Hypernyms ("ascendent" is a kind of...):

ascendance; ascendancy; ascendence; ascendency; control; dominance (the state that exists when one person or group has power over another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

ancestor; antecedent; ascendant; ascendent; root

Hypernyms ("ascendent" is a kind of...):

relation; relative (a person related by blood or marriage)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ascendent"):

ancestress (a woman ancestor)

forbear; forebear (a person from whom you are descended)

father; forefather; sire (the founder of a family)

foremother (a woman ancestor)

primogenitor; progenitor (an ancestor in the direct line)

• ASCENDENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tending or directed upward

Synonyms:

ascendant; ascendent; ascensive

Context example:

rooted and ascendant strength like that of foliage

Similar:

ascending (moving or going or growing upward)

Derivation:

ascend (come up, of celestial bodies)

ascend (slope upwards)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Most powerful or important or influential

Synonyms:

ascendant; ascendent; dominating

Context example:

D-day is considered the dominating event of the war in Europe

Similar:

dominant (exercising influence or control)

Derivation:

ascendence; ascendency (the state that exists when one person or group has power over another)