| Ascension | n. [ F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr. ascendere. See Ascend. ] 1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day after his resurrection. (Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which arises, as from distillation. [ 1913 Webster ] Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Ascensional | a. Relating to ascension; connected with ascent; ascensive; tending upward; as, the ascensional power of a balloon. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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