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 increase till it becomes 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 in the just crescent their direction is towards the east.