Definition of "ascendant"

The constellation […] about that time ascendant.

1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […]

An ascendant spirit above him.

1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727

[…] while the ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth, available for purposes of collective luxury or magnificence.

1848, John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy: With Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], book I (Production), page 19

At the same time, he sees our current society, where computers are ascendant, as lacking authority.

1995 May 21, Steven Levy, “The Unabomber and David Gelernter”, in The New York Times‎

Now, with Syria’s Kurds ascendant, hopes that the country as it is now may again be controlled from Damascus are also falling.

2015 August 1, Martin Chulov, “Ascendant Kurds emerge from Syrian civil war as major power player”, in The Guardian‎

[T]he Dominion of ſucceeding Favourites [...] occaſioned perpetual commotions in that State, and changes of the Miniſtry; and would certainly have produced thoſe in the Government too; if [Cardinal] Richelieu having gained the abſolute aſcendant in that Court, had not engaged in the deſigns at firſt of a War upon the Hugonots, and after that was ended, upon Spain; [...]

1672, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Original and Nature of Government. […]”, in Miscellanea. The First Part. [...], 3rd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], and Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1691, pages 91–92

Chievres had acquired over the mind of the young monarch the ascendant not only of a tutor, but of a parent.

1769, William Robertson, The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] W. and W. Strahan, for W[illiam] Strahan, T[homas] Cadell, […]; and J. Balfour, […]

The Eſtate and Inheritance of a Perſon dying Inteſtate is, by Right of Devolution, according to the Civil-Lavv, given to ſuch as are ally'd to him ex Latere, commonly ſtiled Collaterals, if there be no Aſcendants or Deſcendants ſurviving at the time of his Death.

1726, John Ayliffe, “Of Administration, and the Possession of Intestate Goods”, in Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], page 34

taught by the jealous ascendants, sometimes by doctrine, sometimes by example, always by provocation.

May 26 1795, Edmund Burke, letter to Hercules Langrish