But over the last few years, pro-Syrian forces have been on the ascendant.

BBC: Lebanon risks being torn apart by Syrian conflict

As the U.S. economy fattened on the strength of an illusory real-estate boom, Woods was ascendant on the golf course and seemingly off of it too a fourth Masters in 2005, wins at the PGA Championship and the British Open in 2006, a fourth PGA Championship in 2007 and a third U.S. Open in 2008, plus a beautiful wife and a baby girl.

WSJ: DJIA: The Dow of Tiger Woods

While others mourned the end of an institution, Burton saw an opportunity to reinvent the franchise for a new era, one where public media is on the decline and digital distribution is in the ascendant.

FORBES: LeVar Burton on Bringing 'Reading Rainbow' To The iPad And Closing The Digital Divide

On the other hand, China and India represent true ascendant economies of the next decade and beyond.

FORBES: It will take more than a recession to keep the country down.

Rousey raised both arms in victory while flat on the canvas after the longest fight of the mixed martial artist's ascendant career.

NPR: Ronda Rousey Wins Historic Women's UFC Debut

Whichever of Ituri's two tribes is briefly in the ascendant has taken revenge on the other.

ECONOMIST: Congo's wars

Ironically, at the time corporate raiders burst on the scene, the U.S. economy seemed to be stuck in a rut while Japan was ascendant.

FORBES: Dan Loeb Shakes Up Japan And Sony

Before Mr Obama became president, the consensus was that the ascendant Democrats would merely drag their feet on trade matters.

ECONOMIST: Economic nationalism rears its ugly head

What's been striking is that on mainstream equity markets at least, the hopes have been in the ascendant.

BBC: Italy on the brink

And on this no one can accuse me of not living by my principles. (Laughter.) A middle class that's back on its feet, an economy that lifts everybody up, an America that's ascendant in the world -- that's more important than winning an election.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Takes Questions at GOP House Issues Conference | The White House