ascensio

Forms

ascēnsiō f (genitive ascēnsiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin ascendō + -tiō, a noun of action from the verb meaning “to go up”.^[2][1] De Vaan lists it among the derivatives of scandō (“to climb”),^[3] which goes back to Proto-Italic *skand-e/o- (“to ascend”) and the aorist Proto-Indo-European *skend- (“to jump up, ascend”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus (c. 250–184 BC)^[4] is the first to have it, in the Rudens, where an ape is seen climbing up to a swallow's nest: ascensionem ut faceret, “to make its way up”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it meant an act of climbing, and Vitruvius used it for a rising series of steps;^[2] it was rarer than ascensus.^[5] Cicero applied it figuratively to the progress of orators.^[2][5] The Vulgate has it for a way up and, by metonymy, for a means of ascent,^[5] and Dictys for going on board ship.^[6]

The Church Fathers used it often for the Ascension of Christ into heaven,^[6] and in medieval Latin it also named Ascension Day, forty days after Easter.^[7] Medieval writers further applied it to a journey uphill, to stairs, to promotion in rank and spiritual progress,^[8] and to the rising of the sun.^[8] English took it about 1300 for the Ascension of Christ, and in an astronomical sense in the late 14th century.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for an ape climbing to a swallow's nest.^[2][4]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it for a rising series of steps.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero applies it to the progress of orators.^[2][4]
• 390–406 AD – The Vulgate uses it for a way up and a means of ascent.^[5][4]
• early 8th century – Bede uses it for the Ascension of Christ.^[7][4]
• c. 1300 – English borrows it as ascension for the Ascension of Christ.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. An act of climbing up; an ascent.^[2][5]
2. A rising series or flight of steps.^[2]
3. (figurative) Progress, advancement.^[2][5]
4. (Late Latin) A way up; a means of ascent.^[5]
5. (Late Latin) Embarkation, going on board.^[6]
6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The Ascension of Christ.^[6][10][7]
7. (Medieval Latin) Ascension Day.^[7]
8. (Medieval Latin) Promotion in rank; spiritual progress.^[8]

Related words

• English ascension

Usage notes

The commoner Classical word for an ascent was ascensus.^[5]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
7. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
10. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson