I. ˈas noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus
Date: before 12th century
1. : any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus ) smaller than the horse and having long ears ; especially : an African mammal ( E. asinus ) that is the ancestor of the donkey
2. sometimes vulgar : a stupid, obstinate, or perverse person
made an ass of himself
— often compounded with a preceding adjective
don't be a smart- ass
II. ˈas noun
or arse ˈas, ˈärs
Etymology: Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears; akin to Old High German & Old Norse ars buttocks, Greek orrhos buttocks, oura tail
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. often vulgar : buttocks — often used in emphatic reference to a specific person
get your ass over here
saved my ass
b. often vulgar : anus
2. usually vulgar : sexual intercourse
III. adverb
Etymology: ass (II)
Date: circa 1920
often vulgar — used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication
fancy- ass