Ascend, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending.]
Etymology: [L. ascendere; ad + scandere to climb, mount. See Scan.]
1. To move upward; to mount; to go up; to rise; -- opposed to Ant: descend. Higher yet that star ascends. Bowring. I ascend unto my father and your father. John xx. 17.
Note: Formerly used with up. The smoke of it ascended up to heaven. Addison.
2. To rise, in a figurative sense; to proceed from an inferior to a superior degree, from mean to noble objects, from particulars to generals, from modern to ancient times, from one note to another more acute, etc.; as, our inquiries ascend to the remotest antiquity; to ascend to our first progenitor.
Syn. -- To rise; mount; climb; scale; soar; tower.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Ascend, v. t.
To go or move upward upon or along; to climb; to mount; to go up the top of; as, to ascend a hill, a ladder, a tree, a river, a throne.