Usually, the director has ascendancy over the designer, who is more important than the lighting designer, and so on.
They thought that Gabrielle was neurotic and dangerous, a sorceress who had obtained ascendancy over an emotional boy.
For the moment, at least, it looks as if the traditional content providers from the old Time Warner -- the magazine, movie, television, book and music divisions -- have gained the ascendancy over the upstart Internet entrepreneurs from America Online.
It comes as club football, including Uefa's own highly successful Champions League tournament, has grown in ascendancy over the international game.
When his first Parliament met in June, trouble immediately arose because of the general distrust of Buckingham, who had retained his ascendancy over the new king.
For almost six weeks these two narratives have been fought over in a struggle for ascendancy.
In the first half Spurs enjoyed much of the ball and, especially after Aaron Lennon had established an early ascendancy over the left-back Alexander Lukovic, threatened the Udinese goal.
As a first step we had to gain pyschological ascendancy over the Taliban - there was, you will recall, much unhelpful international sceptism of Nato's resolve and capability that was picked up by the Taliban.
More usually, the power of their emblematic social role is the focus of lament; the emotional ascendancy they have over popular consciousness.
Few bowlers have established quite such an ascendancy over a dangerous opponent as Vaas's dominance of the West Indian captain Chris Gayle.
