CRESCENT, the new moon, which, as it begins to recede from the sun, shows a little rim of light, terminating in points or horns, which are still increasing till it become full and round in the opposition. The word is formed from creſco, "I grow."
The term is also used for the same figure of the moon in its wane or decrease, but improperly; because the points or horns are then turned towards the west, whereas they look to the east in the just crescent.