Crescent \Cres"cent\ (kr[e^]s"sent), a.
1. Shaped like a crescent.
Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns.
--Milton.
2. Increasing; growing.
O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not
set. --Tennyson.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Crescent \Cres"cent\ (kr[e^]s"sent), n. [OE. cressent,
cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing,
F. croissant, p. pr. of cro[^i]tre, OF. creistre, fr. L.
crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create.
See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo.]
1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or
when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied
improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state.
2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon.
3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an
emblem or badge; as:
(a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana.
(b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople.
Hence:
(c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the
taking of Constantinople.
The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale,
dying crescent is daunted. --Campbell.
4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first
instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in
1268; the second by Ren['e] of Anjou, in 1448; and the
third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred
upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for
valuable services. --Brande & C.
5. (Her.) The emblem of the increasing moon with horns
directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; -- often
used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and
his descendants.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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