Where does “-ass” come from?
-ass (English) comes from English ass, from Middle English asse, from Old English assa, from Old English assen, from Latin asinus, from Latin acinus, from Latin acies, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- — sharp.
-ass (English): Used to intensify an adjective; Used to convert...
Definitions
- Used to intensify an adjective; Used to convert...
Ancestry of “-ass”, step by step
-ass traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ass
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ass | Any of several species of horse-like animals,... |
| 2 | Middle English | asse | Alternative form of axen |
| 3 | Old English | assa | ass, donkey |
| 4 | Old English | assen | she-ass |
| 5 | Latin | asinus | a donkey, an ass; an ass, an idiot, a dolt, a... |
| 6 | Latin | acinus | a berry, especially the grape; the seed of a... |
| 7 | Latin | acies | sharp edge or point; battle line; battle,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱ- | sharp |
via Hungarian ás
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hungarian | ás | to dig |