The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Refraction \Re*frac"tion\ (r?*fr?k"sh?n), n. [F. r['e]fraction.]
   1. The act of refracting, or the state of being refracted.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The change in the direction of ray of light, heat, or the
      like, when it enters obliquely a medium of a different
      density from that through which it has previously moved.
      [1913 Webster]

            Refraction out of the rarer medium into the denser,
            is made towards the perpendicular.    --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Astron.)
      (a) The change in the direction of a ray of light, and,
          consequently, in the apparent position of a heavenly
          body from which it emanates, arising from its passage
          through the earth's atmosphere; -- hence distinguished
          as atmospheric refraction, or astronomical refraction.
      (b) The correction which is to be deducted from the
          apparent altitude of a heavenly body on account of
          atmospheric refraction, in order to obtain the true
          altitude.
          [1913 Webster]

   Angle of refraction (Opt.), the angle which a refracted ray
      makes with the perpendicular to the surface separating the
      two media traversed by the ray.

   Conical refraction (Opt.), the refraction of a ray of light
      into an infinite number of rays, forming a hollow cone.
      This occurs when a ray of light is passed through crystals
      of some substances, under certain circumstances. Conical
      refraction is of two kinds; external conical refraction,
      in which the ray issues from the crystal in the form of a
      cone, the vertex of which is at the point of emergence;
      and internal conical refraction, in which the ray is
      changed into the form of a cone on entering the crystal,
      from which it issues in the form of a hollow cylinder.
      This singular phenomenon was first discovered by Sir W. R.
      Hamilton by mathematical reasoning alone, unaided by
      experiment.

   Differential refraction (Astron.), the change of the
      apparent place of one object relative to a second object
      near it, due to refraction; also, the correction required
      to be made to the observed relative places of the two
      bodies.

   Double refraction (Opt.), the refraction of light in two
      directions, which produces two distinct images. The power
      of double refraction is possessed by all crystals except
      those of the isometric system. A uniaxial crystal is said
      to be optically positive (like quartz), or optically
      negative (like calcite), or to have positive, or negative,
      double refraction, according as the optic axis is the axis
      of least or greatest elasticity for light; a biaxial
      crystal is similarly designated when the same relation
      holds for the acute bisectrix.

   Index of refraction. See under Index.

   Refraction circle (Opt.), an instrument provided with a
      graduated circle for the measurement of refraction.

   Refraction of latitude, longitude, declination, right
   ascension, etc., the change in the apparent latitude,
      longitude, etc., of a heavenly body, due to the effect of
      atmospheric refraction.

   Terrestrial refraction, the change in the apparent altitude
      of a distant point on or near the earth's surface, as the
      top of a mountain, arising from the passage of light from
      it to the eye through atmospheric strata of varying
      density.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Right \Right\ (r[imac]t), a. [OE. right, riht, AS. riht; akin to
   D. regt, OS. & OHG. reht, G. recht, Dan. ret, Sw. r[aum]tt,
   Icel. rettr, Goth. ra['i]hts, L. rectus, p. p. of regere to
   guide, rule; cf. Skr. [.r]ju straight, right. [root]115. Cf.
   Adroit,Alert, Correct, Dress, Regular, Rector,
   Recto, Rectum, Regent, Region, Realm, Rich,
   Royal, Rule.]
   1. Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line. "Right as
      any line." --Chaucer
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not
      oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God,
      or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and
      just; according with truth and duty; just; true.
      [1913 Webster]

            That which is conformable to the Supreme Rule is
            absolutely right, and is called right simply without
            relation to a special end.            --Whately.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right
      man in the right place; the right way from London to
      Oxford.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not
      spurious. "His right wife." --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            In this battle, . . . the Britons never more plainly
            manifested themselves to be right barbarians.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming
      to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous;
      correct; as, this is the right faith.
      [1913 Webster]

            You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well.
                                                  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            If there be no prospect beyond the grave, the
            inference is . . . right, "Let us eat and drink, for
            to-morrow we die."                    --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.
      [1913 Webster]

            The lady has been disappointed on the right side.
                                                  --Spectator.
      [1913 Webster]

   8. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which
      the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other
      side; -- opposed to left when used in reference to a part
      of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied
      to the corresponding side of the lower animals.
      [1913 Webster]

            Became the sovereign's favorite, his right hand.
                                                  --Longfellow.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: In designating the banks of a river, right and left are
         used always with reference to the position of one who
         is facing in the direction of the current's flow.
         [1913 Webster]

   9. Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well
      regulated; correctly done.
      [1913 Webster]

   10. Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side
       of a piece of cloth.
       [1913 Webster]

   At right angles, so as to form a right angle or right
      angles, as when one line crosses another perpendicularly.


   Right and left, in both or all directions. [Colloq.]

   Right and left coupling (Pipe fitting), a coupling the
      opposite ends of which are tapped for a right-handed screw
      and a left-handed screw, respectivelly.

   Right angle.
       (a) The angle formed by one line meeting another
           perpendicularly, as the angles ABD, DBC.
       (b) (Spherics) A spherical angle included between the
           axes of two great circles whose planes are
           perpendicular to each other.

   Right ascension. See under Ascension.

   Right Center (Politics), those members belonging to the
      Center in a legislative assembly who have sympathies with
      the Right on political questions. See Center, n., 5.

   Right cone, Right cylinder, Right prism, Right
   pyramid (Geom.), a cone, cylinder, prism, or pyramid, the
      axis of which is perpendicular to the base.

   Right line. See under Line.

   Right sailing (Naut.), sailing on one of the four cardinal
      points, so as to alter a ship's latitude or its longitude,
      but not both. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

   Right sphere (Astron. & Geol.), a sphere in such a position
      that the equator cuts the horizon at right angles; in
      spherical projections, that position of the sphere in
      which the primitive plane coincides with the plane of the
      equator.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Right is used elliptically for it is right, what you
         say is right, true.
         [1913 Webster]

               "Right," cries his lordship.       --Pope.
         [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Straight; direct; perpendicular; upright; lawful;
        rightful; true; correct; just; equitable; proper;
        suitable; becoming.
        [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ascension \As*cen"sion\, n. [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr.
   ascendere. See Ascend.]
   1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the
      fortieth day after his resurrection. (--Acts i. 9.) Also,
      Ascension Day.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that
      which arises, as from distillation.
      [1913 Webster]

            Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.
      [1913 Webster]

   Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the
      day on which commemorated our Savior's ascension into
      heaven after his resurrection; -- called also Holy
      Thursday.

   Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial,
      counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a
      star, or other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the
      arc of the equator intercepted between the first point of
      Aries and that point of the equator that comes to the
      meridian with the star; -- expressed either in degrees or
      in time.

   Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator,
      intercepted between the first point of Aries and that
      point of the equator which rises together with a star, in
      an oblique sphere; or the arc of the equator intercepted
      between the first point of Aries and that point of the
      equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is
      little used in modern astronomy.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

right ascension
    n 1: (astronomy) the equatorial coordinate specifying the angle,
         measured eastward along the celestial equator, from the
         vernal equinox to the intersection of the hour circle that
         passes through an object in the sky; usually expressed in
         hours and minutes and seconds; used with declination to
         specify positions on the celestial sphere; "one hour of
         right ascension equals fifteen degrees" [syn: right
         ascension, RA, celestial longitude]