ass1 (as)

[ E. easel, q. v.) = OHG. esil, MHG. G. esel (> Dan. esel, asel ) = Goth. asilus (cf. Ir. and Gael. asal = Manx a yl, and OBulg. osilŭ = Bohem. osel = Pol. osiel, osiol (barred 1 ) = Ru . osclă = Lith. asilas = OPru . asilis ), prob. the same, with variant termination, as Icel. asn i, m., asn a, fem., = Sw. åsna = Dan. asen (cf. W. asyn = Corn. asen = Bret. azen ); all appar. (the Slav. and Lith. forms through Teut.) It. asino = Sp. Pg. as no = Pr. asne = OF. asne, F. ánc) = a a inate a apant, as sapan ict (as-a-pan', -ik), n. [N. Amer. Ind.] Ind.] The native name of the American. flying-squirrel, Sciuropterus volucella . Also as- sapanick, a aphan. a art (a-särt'), v. t. [ a arter , OF. es- sarter, ML. exartare, exsartare (freq. of * ex- sarire ), grub up, ex , out, + sartare for * sari- tare , freq. of L. sarire , sarrire , pp. sarritus , hoe, weed, grub.] In Eng . law , to grub up (trees and bushes); clear (wood-land). a art (a-särt'), n. [Now [Now also also e art ; asalir, later a aillir = Pr.asalir, a alhir =It.as salire, With greedy force he gan the fort t' a ail. Spenser. The covert of some enclosed ground in the rear enabled a party to steal round and a ail them unexpectedly in R. W. Dizon , Hist. Church of Eng., III. 74. flank. IMG:content-1254.png:[blocks in formation] evangelical morality. The metaphysical doctrine a ailed by Hume tended, when carried to its logical extreme, to identify reality with reason. Gr. όνος (orig. *όσνος 1), an a ; 3. perhaps ult. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. athon, a she-a . Cf. G. a el, esp. in comp. keller - a el (also keller - esel ), a wood-louse, so named from its color, L. a sell us, a little a , dim. of asinus; cf. Gr. όνος, a wood-louse.] 1. A solidungulate quadruped of the family Equida, the Equus asi nus. This animal has long ears, a short mane, and a tail covered with long hairs at the end. It is usually ash-colored, with a black cro over the shoulders, formed by a longitudinal and a transverse dark streak. The tame or domestic a is patient, and carries a heavy burden. It is slow, but very sure-footed, and for this reason very useful on rough, steep, and hilly ground. The a is supposed to be a native of central Asia (by Darwin and others, of Aby in i a), where vast troops roam over the great deserts in a wild state. The wild a is a fine fleet animal, and is accounted the noblest game in Persia, where its flesh is prized as venison is with us. The domesticated a has become the type of obstinacy and stupidity. See jacka . 2. Any wild species of the subgenus Asinus, as the dziggetai or hemione, onager, etc.-3. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt; a fool; a blockhead. Leslie Stephen , Eng. Thought, i. § 64. To fall upon; bring something to bear upon or against; come in contact with: as, the ship was a ailed by a severe storm. Sit down awhile, And let us once again a ail your ears. Shak ., Hamlet, 1. 1. When trouble did thee sore a ail , On me then didst thou call. Milton , Ps. lxxxi. =Syn. 1. Attack, Set upon, Fall upon, A ail, A ault, Attack, literally to fasten to, is the most general of these words. Set upon and fall upon have the vigor of short and familiar words, and they expre a sudden, energetic attack. A ail and a ault, literally to leap or spring at, are to attack vehemently and perhaps suddenly. A ault is the stronger of the two, and is especially used of attacks with personal violence, as with fists, stones, etc. All five of these words may be extended to warfare, and to contests and struggles of any kind. This king's [Menephtah's] first experience in war was against an army of wider nationality than had ever before attacked Egypt. H. S. Osborn, Ancient Egypt, p. 74. He look'd, and more amazed Than if seven men had set upon him, saw The maiden standing in the dewy light. Tennyson, Lance lot and Elaine. My lord is weary with the fight before, And they will fall upon him unawares. Tennyson, Geraint. The indignation which arms itself with secret forces If this be not a fit of some violent affection, I am an a in understanding. Ford , Love's Sacrifice, ii. 2. 4. A post in the bridge of a pulp-vat on which the mold is placed to drain. - A es' bridge ( pons asinorum), a name humorously given to the fifth propodoes not awaken until we are pricked and stung and sorely sition of the first book of Euclid's Elements of Geometry. See pons asinorum. - Feast of a es, See feast. - The Two A es, the stars y and 8 of the constellation Cancer, on either side of the nebula Præsepe. See A sell us. N. E. D.