'ascian' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'askios', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'skia' meant 'shadow'.

'ascian' derives from Greek 'askios' (ἀσκιός) and was later adopted into English as a learned formation meaning 'without shadow', giving the plural 'ascians'.

Initially, it meant 'without shadow' in the original formation, and it has retained this specialized sense in modern usage referring to persons or beings lacking shadows.