ass
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English asse, from Old English assa, back-formed from assen (“she-ass”), from Celtic (compare Old Irish asan, Old Cornish asen), from Latin asinus. Replaced Old English esol, from Proto-West Germanic *asil, also a loanword from the same Latin word.
Noun
ass (plural asses)
- Any of several species of horse-like animals, especially Equus asinus, the domesticated of which are used as beasts of burden.
- Synonym: donkey
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- (slang) A stupid person.
- 1912, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World[1]:
- I had sprung to my feet. I was speaking, and yet I had prepared no words. Tarp Henry, my companion, was plucking at my skirts and I heard him whispering, "Sit down, Malone! Don't make a public ass of yourself."
Hyponyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
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See also
Etymology 2
Variant of arse; used chiefly in North America. Ultimately from Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears, from Proto-West Germanic *ars, from Proto-Germanic *arsaz (compare Old High German ars (German Arsch), Old Norse ars, Old Frisian ers), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃érsos (compare Ancient Greek ὄρρος (órrhos)).
Contrary to the widespread belief of this being a euphemism, it arose as a pronunciation spelling (of the older form arse still used in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) that shows the loss of -r- before s increasingly common in all words since the 18th century in both England and its colonies. In the USA, "dropping Rs" (non-rhotic pronunciation) was common in prestige speech until the 1860s, when the American Civil War shifted the country's centers of wealth and political power to areas with fewer cultural connections to the British elite. (See also these similar cases, some of which retained both spellings with different meanings: cuss from curse, gash from garsh, bass (“fish”) from barse, bust from burst, passel from parcel.)
Noun
ass (countable and uncountable, plural asses)
- (vulgar, slang, countable and uncountable) Buttocks.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:buttocks
- (vulgar, slang, countable and uncountable) Anus.
- 1959, William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch, page 68
- Train compartment: two sick young junkies on their way to Lexington tear their pants down in convulsions of lust. One of them soaps his cock and works it up the other's ass with a corkscrew motion.
- 1959, William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch, page 68
- (vulgar, slang, uncountable) Sex.
- Synonyms: poontang, poon, punani, pussy, tail, tang; see also Thesaurus:copulation
- I’m going to go down to the bar and try to get me some ass.
- 1971, Joni Mitchell (lyrics and music), “Blue”, in Blue:
- Acid, booze, and ass / Needles, guns, and grass
- (vulgar, slang, uncountable) Used in similes to express something bad or unpleasant.
- I feel like ass today. ― I am feeling very bad today.
- This room smells like ass. ― This room smells very bad.
- What a bunch of ass. ― What a bunch of lies/nonsense/disappointment.
- (vulgar, slang, metonymically, countable) One's self or person, chiefly their body. By extension, one's personal safety, or figuratively one's job, prospects, etc.
- Get your lazy ass out of bed!
- We risk our asses out there every day.
Usage notes
- When used metonymically to refer to a person, it adds a tone of anger or disapproval to the whole sentence: "he has trouble getting his ass up in the morning" is much stronger and more negative than "he has trouble getting up in the morning". Such usage is also considered by many to be rude, vulgar and offensive, especially when it refers to the person addressed.
Derived terms
- assage
- ass-backwards, ass backward, ass-backward
- ass bandit
- ass clown
- ass crack
- assgasm
- asshat
- asshole, ass hole
- ass in a sling
- ass kicking
- ass kissing
- assle
- ass-licker
- assmonkey
- ass over teakettle
- assrun
- bare-assed
- big-ass
- blow it out one's ass
- bust ass cold
- bust one's ass
- dumbass, dumb ass, dumb-ass
- fatass, fat-ass
- get one's ass in gear
- give a rat's ass
- half-assed, half-ass, half ass
- hardass, hard-ass, hard-assed
- haul ass
- her ass
- his ass
- horse's ass
- horseshoe up one's ass
- kick ass, kick-ass, kickass
- kiss ass, kiss-ass
- kiss my ass
- kiss one's ass goodbye
- know one's ass from a hole in the ground
- my ass
- pain in the ass
- piece of ass
- pop a cap in someone's ass
- put one's ass on the line
- shake one's ass
- smart ass, smart-ass
- stick up one's ass
- stupid ass
- take it up the ass
- wiseass, wise-ass
- your ass
Translations
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
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Adverb
ass
- (postpositive, vulgar, slang) Used after an adjective to indicate extremes or excessiveness. (Should we delete(+) this sense?)
- Synonym: -ass
- That was one big ass fish!
- That's an expensive ass car!
Further reading
- L. Sprague de Camp (1971) “Arse and ass”, in Journal of the International Phonetic Association, volume 1, number 2, , pages 79–80
Anagrams
German
Verb
ass
- Switzerland and Liechtenstein standard spelling of aß.
Latvian
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Train_axle.jpg/200px-Train_axle.jpg)
Etymology 1
From Proto-Balto-Slavic *aśís, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs-. Originally an i/n-stem, it became an i-stem in Baltic.[1]
Pronunciation
Audio: | (file) |
Noun
ass f (6th declension)
- axle (pin or spindle around which something, e.g. a wheel, rotates)
- ratu ass ― axletree
- vagona ass ― wagon axle
- motocikla pakaļējā riteņa ass ― motorcycle rear wheel axle
- (mathematics) axis (a line with certain important properties)
- simetrijas, rotācijas ass ― axis of symmetry, of rotation
- zemes griešanās ass ― the Earth's rotation axis
- koordinātu asis ― coordinate axes
- abscisu, ordinātu ass ― x-, y-axis
Declension
singular (vienskaitlis) | plural (daudzskaitlis) | |
---|---|---|
nominative (nominatīvs) | ass | asis |
accusative (akuzatīvs) | asi | asis |
genitive (ģenitīvs) | ass | asu |
dative (datīvs) | asij | asīm |
instrumental (instrumentālis) | asi | asīm |
locative (lokatīvs) | asī | asīs |
vocative (vokatīvs) | ass | asis |
Etymology 2
From the same source as ass (“axle”), originally a unit of measurement corresponding to the length of a person's outstretched arms (compare Russian са́жень (sáženʹ, “old unit of measurement; length of outstretched arms”).[1]
Pronunciation
Audio: | (file) |
Noun
ass f (6th declension)
- old unit of length in the Russian system, equivalent to approximately 2.13 meters
- jūras ass ― fathom (unit of length in the English system, approximately 1.83 meters)
- old unit of volume for measuring wood, equivalent to approximately 2-4 cubic meters
- divas asis malkas ― two axes (=4-8m3) of wood
Declension
singular (vienskaitlis) | plural (daudzskaitlis) | |
---|---|---|
nominative (nominatīvs) | ass | asis |
accusative (akuzatīvs) | asi | asis |
genitive (ģenitīvs) | ass | asu |
dative (datīvs) | asij | asīm |
instrumental (instrumentālis) | asi | asīm |
locative (lokatīvs) | asī | asīs |
vocative (vokatīvs) | ass | asis |
Etymology 3
From earlier *asus, from Proto-Baltic *ašus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp, pointed, edgy”). With an extra suffix *-ro, the same stem also yielded Proto-Balto-Slavic *aśras (“sharp”), whence Latvian dialectal asrs, as well as the Lithuanian cognate aštrùs, dialectal ašrùs. From this stem, there are also Latvian reflexes with ak rather than as (e.g., akmens (“stone”), akots (“awn”)), possibly a result of Proto-Indo-European dialectal variation. In Latvian, former u-stem adjectives like *asus were assimilated into other classes; *asus gave rise to both an o-stem and a yo-stem variant which later on became independent words, ass and ašs, with different semantic nuances (compare also, e.g., plats and plašs, or dobs and dobjš). Other cognates include Old Church Slavonic остръ (ostrŭ), Russian о́стрый (óstryj), Belarusian во́стры (vóstry), Ukrainian о́стрий (óstryj), го́стрий (hóstryj), Bulgarian о́стър (óstǎr), Czech ostrý, Polish ostry, Proto-Germanic *agjō (Old High German ecka, egga (“corner, edge, point, peak, blade”), German Ecke, Sanskrit अश्रिः (áśriḥ, “corner, edge, blade”), Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter "sc" should be a valid script code; the value "polytonic" is not valid. See WT:LOS., Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter "sc" should be a valid script code; the value "polytonic" is not valid. See WT:LOS., Latin ācer (“sharp”), aciēs (“sharpness, blade”).[1]
Pronunciation
Audio: | (file) |
Adjective
ass (definite asais, comparative asāks, superlative visasākais, adverb asi)
- sharp (such that it (blade, tool) can easily cut or pierce)
- ass nazis, zāģis, cirvis ― sharp knife, saw, ax
- ass īlens, ilknis ― sharp awl, fang
- asa adata ― sharp needle
- asi ragi, ilkņi ― sharp horns, fangs
- pointed (having a narrow tip)
- asas kalnu galotnes ― sharp mountain tops
- ass zīmulis ― sharp pencil
- angular, not rounded (of body parts; also of writing, drawing)
- asi elkoņi ― sharp elbows
- asi vaigu kauli ― sharp cheekbones
- asas burtu formas rokrakstā ― sharp letter forms in handwriting
- (of plants) sharp (having little thorns or thorn-like growths, or having a sharp edge, capable of stinging)
- ass dadzis, paeglis, grīslis ― sharp thistle, juniper, sedge
- asa zāle, nātre ― sharp leaf, nettle
- (of fabric, skin, etc.) coarse, rough
- asa sejas āda ― coarse, rough facial skin
- ass linu dvielis ― towel (made) of coarse linen
- sharp, pungent, hot (which irritates the senses, creating a strong feeling or reaction)
- asa mērce ― spicy, hot (lit. sharp) sauce
- asa dūmu smaka ― pungent smell of smoke
- ass ož pēc hlora ― sharp smell of chlorine
- ass vējš ― sharp wind
- asas sāpes ― sharp pain
- ass klepus ― sharp (painful) cough
- harsh (voice, sound); sharp, biting, unsparing, fierce
- asā balss ― harsh voice
- runāt asā tonī ― to speak in a harsh tone (of voice)
- ass sarkasms ― sharp, biting sarcasm
- ass pārmetumi ― sharp, harsh criticism
- asa ķilda ― fierce quarrel
- asa mēle ― sharp tongue (= caustic, sarcastic)
- sharp, well-defined, clearly marked
- asas kontūras ― sharp contour, profile
- asi sejas vaibsti ― sharp facial features
- zīmēt asām līnijām ― to draw with sharp, well-defined lines
- (about problems, questions) clear, acute, of immediate importance
- asa problēma ― a clear, acute problem
- sharp (very well developed, very accurate)
- asa redze ― sharp vision
- ass prāts ― sharp mind
- asa uztvere ― sharp perception, acumen
Declension
masculine (vīriešu dzimte) | feminine (sieviešu dzimte) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
singular (vienskaitlis) |
plural (daudzskaitlis) |
singular (vienskaitlis) |
plural (daudzskaitlis) | ||||||
nominative (nominatīvs) | ass | asi | asa | asas | |||||
accusative (akuzatīvs) | asu | asus | asu | asas | |||||
genitive (ģenitīvs) | asa | asu | asas | asu | |||||
dative (datīvs) | asam | asiem | asai | asām | |||||
instrumental (instrumentālis) | asu | asiem | asu | asām | |||||
locative (lokatīvs) | asā | asos | asā | asās | |||||
vocative (vokatīvs) | — | — | — | — | |||||
Synonyms
Antonyms
Derived terms
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “ass”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN.
Luxembourgish
Verb
ass
Manx
Etymology
From Old Irish ass, masculine and neuter singular form of a (“out of, from”), from Proto-Celtic *exs, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs (“from”). Compare Irish as.
Adverb
ass
Preposition
ass
- out of
Inflection
Singular | Plural | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Person | 1st | 2nd | 3rd m. | 3rd f. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
Normal | assym | assyd | ass | assjee | assdooin | assdiu | assdaue |
Emphatic | assyms | assyds | assyn | assjeeish | assdooinyn | assdiuish | assdauesyn |
Derived terms
Pronoun
ass
Derived terms
- assyn (emphatic)
Middle English
Noun
ass
- Alternative form of asshe (“burnt matter”)
Norwegian Bokmål
Alternative forms
- Ass (alternative capitalization)
Noun
ass m (definite singular assen, indefinite plural asser, definite plural assene)
Norwegian Nynorsk
Alternative forms
- Ass (alternative capitalization)
Noun
ass m (definite singular assen, indefinite plural assar, definite plural assane)
Old Irish
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Pronoun
ass
Swedish
Noun
ass n
Declension
Declension of ass | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | |||
Indefinite | Definite | Indefinite | Definite | |
Nominative | ass | asset | ass | assen |
Genitive | ass | assets | ass | assens |
See also
Anagrams
- Latvian etymologies from LEV
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/æs
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Celtic languages
- English terms derived from Latin
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English slang
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English uncountable nouns
- English vulgarities
- English metonyms
- English adverbs
- en:People
- English swear words
- English terms with multiple etymologies
- English three-letter words
- en:Buttocks
- en:Equids
- German non-lemma forms
- German verb forms
- Switzerland and Liechtenstein German forms
- Latvian terms inherited from Proto-Balto-Slavic
- Latvian terms derived from Proto-Balto-Slavic
- Latvian terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Latvian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Latvian terms with audio links
- Latvian lemmas
- Latvian nouns
- Latvian feminine nouns
- Latvian terms with usage examples
- lv:Mathematics
- Latvian sixth declension nouns
- Latvian noun forms
- Latvian non-alternating sixth declension nouns
- Latvian terms inherited from Proto-Baltic
- Latvian terms derived from Proto-Baltic
- Latvian adjectives
- lv:Simple machines
- lv:Touch
- lv:Units of measure
- Luxembourgish non-lemma forms
- Luxembourgish verb forms
- Manx terms inherited from Old Irish
- Manx terms derived from Old Irish
- Manx terms inherited from Proto-Celtic
- Manx terms derived from Proto-Celtic
- Manx terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European
- Manx terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Manx lemmas
- Manx adverbs
- Manx prepositions
- Manx non-lemma forms
- Manx prepositional pronouns
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English nouns
- Norwegian Bokmål lemmas
- Norwegian Bokmål nouns
- Norwegian Bokmål masculine nouns
- nb:Music
- Norwegian Nynorsk lemmas
- Norwegian Nynorsk nouns
- Norwegian Nynorsk masculine nouns
- nn:Music
- Old Irish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Old Irish non-lemma forms
- Old Irish prepositional pronouns
- Swedish lemmas
- Swedish nouns
- Swedish neuter nouns
- sv:Music
- Swedish abbreviations