ascendancy
noun
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In the course of a year, the sun appears to pass through the twelve constellations of the zodiac in sequence, and all the planets also lie close to the solar path. The constellation and planet that are just rising, or ascendant, above the eastern horizon in the sun's path at the moment of a child's birth are said by astrologers to exercise a lifelong controlling influence over the child. This is the idea that lies at the heart of ascendancy, though the word today no longer hints at supernatural powers.
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Examples of ascendancy in a Sentence
Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
The attack, analysts say, was a reflection of the ascendancy of hard-line leaders in the group advocating for violent conflict over long-term understandings with Israel.
—Adam Rasgon, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
The stunning launch of $TRUMP caught the entire industry off-guard, and speaks to both his personal influence and the ascendancy of cryptocurrency in his administration.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 18 Jan. 2025
During his Senate ascendancy, the United States fought a 20-year war in Afghanistan, costing a staggering $2.3 trillion, according to Brown University’s Cost of War Project, to restore a grislier version of the Taliban with no oversight hearings!
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Ascendancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascendancy. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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ascendancy
noun
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