1. The act or process of ascending; ascent.
2. Astronomy. The rising of a star above the horizon.
3. Ascension
   1. In Christianity, the bodily rising of Jesus into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection.
   2. A feast celebrating this event, observed on Ascension Day.

[Middle English ascensioun, from Old French ascention, from Latin ascēnsiō, ascēnsiōn-, from ascēnsus, past participle of ascendere, to ascend. See ascend.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.