Node n.
 1. A knot, a knob; a protuberance; a swelling.
 2. Specifically: (a) Astron. One of the two points where the orbit of a planet, or comet, intersects the ecliptic, or the orbit of a satellite intersects the plane of the orbit of its primary. (b) Bot. The joint of a stem, or the part where a leaf or several leaves are inserted. (c) Dialing A hole in the gnomon of a dial, through which passes the ray of light which marks the hour of the day, the parallels of the sun's declination, his place in the ecliptic, etc. (d) Geom. The point at which a curve crosses itself, being a double point of the curve. See Crunode, and Acnode. (e) Mech. The point at which the lines of a funicular machine meet from different angular directions; -- called also knot. --W. R. Johnson. (f) Poet. The knot, intrigue, or plot of a piece. (g) Med. A hard concretion or incrustation which forms upon bones attacked with rheumatism, gout, or syphilis; sometimes also, a swelling in the neighborhood of a joint. --Dunglison. (h) Mus One of the fixed points of a sonorous string, when it vibrates by aliquot parts, and produces the harmonic tones; nodal line or point. (i) Zool. A swelling.
 Ascending node Astron., the node at which the body is passing northerly, marked with the symbol Dragon's head. Called also northern node.
 Descending node, the node at which the body is moving southwardly, marked thus Dragon's tail.
 Line of nodes, a straight line joining the two nodes of an orbit.

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From: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

 As·cend·ing, a. Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite.  -- As*cend*ing*ly, adv.
 Ascending latitude Astron., the increasing latitude of a planet. --Ferguson.
 Ascending line Geneol., the line of relationship traced backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line direct ascending.
 Ascending node having, that node of the moon or a planet wherein it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the northern node. --Herschel.
 Ascending series. Math. (a) A series arranged according to the ascending powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is greater than the preceding.
 Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian.

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