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ass

Pronunciation: /æs/

The English word “ass” has 11 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. Any of several species of horse-like animals, especially Equus asinus, the domesticated of which are used as beasts of burden.
  2. A stupid or inconsiderate person.
  3. A compositor.
  4. The buttocks.
  5. The anus.
  6. Sex; a person to have sex with; with vulgar emphasis on their corporeality (their body) over their personhood.
  7. Used in similes to express something bad or unpleasant.
  8. A person; the self; (reflexively) oneself or one's person, chiefly their body.
  9. One's personal safety, or figuratively one's job, prospects, etc.

adjective

  1. Of low quality; bad.

particle

  1. Synonym of -ass (used to intensify an adjective).

Etymology

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. Displaced Old English esol, from Proto-West Germanic *asil, also a loanword from the same Latin word. Sense “stupid person” from the animal's reputation for stubbornness, going back to antiquity (compare Latin asinus (“slow-witted…

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