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Superior; surpassing; ruling. An ascendant spirit over him. South. The ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth. J. S. Mill. Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself against accusations, . . . no man could possibly hold an ascendent position. Grote.

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.

at the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. Robertson.

In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial, and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things. I am far from commending those ascetics that take up their quarters…

bute naught. Spenser. Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope. And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.

o you ask Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12. To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48. An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison.

abuse, ridicule, and the like. The papal authority . . . assailed. Hallam. They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still keener irony. Macaulay.

his person, as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton. Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the battery. Mozley & W.

h constant diligence or attention; unremitting; persistent; as, assiduous labor. To weary him with my assiduous cries. Milton.

To lend aid; to help. With God not parted from him, as was feared, But favoring and assisting to the end. Milton.

To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court. God assoilzie him for the sin of bloodshed. Sir W. Scott.

to give confidence. Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts xvii. 31. Assurances of support came pouring in daily. Macaulay.

To confirm; to make certain or secure. And it shall be assured to him. Lev. xxvii. 19. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 1 John iii. 19.

To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. [Obs.] Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck Pistol]. Shak. The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not benumbed, is able to astonish others. Holland.

Without God, neither accepting nor denying him. I should say science was atheous, and therefore could not be atheistic. Bp. of Carlisle.

ally in an oblique direction; sidewise; obliquely. Sometimes athwart, sometimes he strook him straight. Spenser.

One who is legally appointed by another to transact any business for him; an attorney in fact.

ts, upon the alienation of an estate, to receive a new lord or superior, and transfers to him his homage and service; the agreement of a tenant to acknowledge the purchaser of the estate as his landlord. Burrill. Blackstone.

r characteristic. But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . . It is an attribute to God himself. Shak.

of the future; presage. From their flight strange auguries she drew. Drayton. He resigned himself . . . with a docility that gave little augury of his future greatness. Prescott.