ascendancy

American  

[uh-sen-duhn-see] / əˈsɛn dən si /

Also ascendance, or ascendency

noun

1. the state of being in the ascendant; governing or controlling influence; domination.

   Synonyms:

   supremacy, sovereignty, preeminence, predominance, hegemony, dominion, dominance

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ascendancy British  

/ əˈsɛndəns, əˈsɛndənsɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being dominant, esp through superior economic or political power

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Other Word Forms

• nonascendance
  noun
• nonascendancy
  noun
• nonascendence
  noun
• nonascendency
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ascendancy

First recorded in 1705–15; ascend(ant) + -ancy

Explanation

When you assume ascendancy over someone else, you become more powerful than they are. Ascendancy is the state of being in a higher position. If you look at ascendancy, you see the word, ascend, which means to go up. Ascendancy is not so much about going up, but about being up. Another word for it is dominance, especially in the context of foreign or domestic relations. In school, if you question a teacher's ascendancy, you might be told to go to the principal's office. In this case, you're challenging the teacher's authority.

Example Sentences

And here in the United States, a recurring theme of the Gingrich Ascendancy is that this or that Federal Government program should be turned over to the states.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ascendancy, then, in the old sense, is a thing of the past.

From The Framework of Home Rule by Childers, Erskine

Pitt's plan of the Union included the abolition of Protestant Ascendancy.

From The Land-War In Ireland (1870) A History For The Times by Godkin, James

The British Government and the Ascendancy Party in Ireland had already begun to regain their hold over the Irish Parliament.

From Home Rule Second Edition by Spender, Harold

A champion of Ascendancy appeared in the person of Captain D'Esterre.

From Irish Wit and Humor Anecdote Biography of Swift, Curran, O'Leary and O'Connell by Anonymous

Related Words

• dominance
• predominance