ASS • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Ass

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noun

Ass n.

(Zool.) A quadruped of the genus Equus (Equus asinus), smaller than the horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild asses which are swift-footed.

A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt.

Asses' Bridge. The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." (Sportive) "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge."

To make an ass of one's self, to do or say something very foolish or absurd.

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Etymology of 'Ass'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Ass" Quotes from Famous Books

... in its proper place) between his hoof and pastern; I took it in my hand, and, having smelt it, returned it to him again as civilly as I could. He brought out of the Yahoos' kennel a piece of ass's flesh; but it smelt so offensively that I turned from it with loathing: he then threw it to the Yahoo, by whom it was greedily devoured. He afterwards showed me a wisp of hay, and a fetlock full of oats; but I shook my head, to signify that neither ...

— Gulliver's Travels - into several remote nations of the world • Jonathan Swift

... worth more than my complexion?" A wattle-bark layman might have expressed himself in stronger language, none the less to the point. But my priest seemed unconscious of what was going on. Besides, the publican was a great and important pillar of the church. He couldn't, as an ignorant and conceited ass, lose such a good opportunity of asserting his faithfulness and importance to ...

— While the Billy Boils • Henry Lawson

... complete ass. How a man like that has the nerve to sit down at a bridge table, I don't know. I wouldn't mind if the man had any idea—even the faintest idea—of how to play. But he hasn't any. Three times I signalled to him to throw ...

— Further Foolishness • Stephen Leacock

... neither advantageth us spiritually, nor glorifies God. It is almost to no purpose; and this is enough to make it all flesh. And for our thoughts, how do they go unlimited and unrestrained?—like a wild ass, traversing her ways, and gadding about, fixed on nothing,—at least not on God; nay, fixed on any thing but God. If it be spiritual service, should it not carry the seal of our spirit and affection on it? We are as so many shadows walking, as pictures ...

— The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning • Hugh Binning

... "I'm an ass to expect anything from coming here," he thought, as he saw the entrance gates of the palace park blazing with green lights in a trellis of verdure. The drive and all the paths that wound through the park were bordered with tiny lamps, and Chinese lanterns hung from the trees. There ...

— The Golden Silence • C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson

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