Literary notes about ascendent (AI summary)
In literature the term “ascendent” is often used both in its astrological sense and in a metaphorical manner to denote rising influence or prominence. It appears literally when describing the zodiac degree seen rising on the eastern horizon, as noted in discussions of astrological charts [1][2][3][4]. At the same time, “ascendent” carries a figurative weight, evoking the idea of a force or quality coming to the fore—whether it be a political faction gaining power [5][6][7], a philosophical trend becoming dominant [8], or even a personal trait emerging more strongly [9]. This dual usage enriches the word’s meaning by blending precise, technical description with evocative, abstract imagery.
- At true midnight, the ascendent is the 29° of Sagittarius.
— from Chaucer's Works, Volume 3 (of 7) — The House of Fame; The Legend of Good Women; The Treatise on the Astrolabe; The Sources of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - The ascendent at any given moment is that degree of the zodiac {192b} which is then seen upon the Eastern horizon.
— from Chaucer's Works, Volume 3 (of 7) — The House of Fame; The Legend of Good Women; The Treatise on the Astrolabe; The Sources of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - The ascendent is the point of the zodiacal circle which happens to be ascending above the horizon at a given moment, such as the moment of birth.
— from Chaucer's Works, Volume 5 (of 7) — Notes to the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - The ascendent is that point of the zodiacal circle which is seen to be just ascending above the horizon at a given moment.
— from Chaucer's Works, Volume 3 (of 7) — The House of Fame; The Legend of Good Women; The Treatise on the Astrolabe; The Sources of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer - He loved office dearly, and hence he did not yield gracefully to the triumph of the ascendent party, which grew stronger every day.
— from Beacon Lights of History, Volume 11: American Founders by John Lord - Ever since, this has been the aim as well as the duty of a chancellor of the exchequer whatever party has been in the ascendent.
— from Beacon Lights of History, Volume 10: European Leaders by John Lord - At one time his star was in the ascendent, and he seemed to be on the highroad to the Presidency.
— from Something of Men I Have KnownWith Some Papers of a General Nature, Political, Historical, and Retrospective by Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing) Stevenson - I have an impression that ever since T.H. Green's time absolute idealism has been decidedly in the ascendent at Oxford.
— from A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by William James - The remembrance of Amanda's words grew fainter; Paul's handsome face, his air of triumphant health and life, were again in the ascendent.
— from The Ordeal of Elizabeth by Anonymous
