"Ascend" originates from the late 14th-century Middle English ascenden, borrowed from the Latin ascendere ("to climb up, mount").   It is composed of the prefix ad- ("to") + scandere ("to climb"), meaning to move upward or slope upward.  The term was originally used to describe climbing up, rising, or in astronomy, planets moving above the horizon.  It has a metaphorical meaning of advancing in rank, rising to power (e.g., "ascend the throne"), or rising in status.  The root scandere is also the basis for "scale" (a ladder) and "scan".  It also has the followed related forms: ascension (noun), ascendant (adjective/noun), ascent (noun). 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the verb ascend in English is from 1382 in Wycliffite Bible (early version).  The noun ascension (c1315), the adjective ascendant (c1386), the noun ascendant (c1386), the verb ascent (c1400). 

Ascending characters (character arc/development) are vital to storytelling as they provide the emotional core, driving engagement, relatability, and thematic depth. A character's growth, flaw overcoming, and rising stakes ensure the story is compelling, moving from a, ". "The "ascent" represents their journey from a starting state—often with flaws or limited understanding—toward growth, maturity, or success by overcoming internal/external struggles.