- asinine
- asinine c.1600, "obstinate, stupid," from L. asininus "stupid," lit. "like an ass," from asinus "ass," also "dolt, blockhead" (see ASS (Cf. ass) (1)). The literal sense in English is recorded from 1620s.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
asinine
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Asinine — As i*nine, a. [L. asininus, fr. asinus ass. See {Ass}.] Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as stupidity and obstinacy. Asinine nature. B. Jonson. Asinine feast. Milton. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
asinine — index fatuous, ludicrous, obtuse, opaque, puerile, unreasonable Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
asinine — *simple, fatuous, silly, foolish Analogous words: *stupid, crass, dumb, dense, dull, slow: puerile (see YOUTHFUL): irrational, unreasonable Antonyms: sensible, judicious Contrasted words: *wise, sane, prudent, sapient, sage: intelligent, clever,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
asinine — [adj] senseless absurd, cretinous, daft, foolish, half witted, idiotic, inane, moronic, silly, sophomoric, stupid; concepts 402,548 … New thesaurus
asinine — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ extremely stupid or foolish. DERIVATIVES asininity noun. ORIGIN Latin asininus, from asinus ass … English terms dictionary
asinine — [as′ə nīn΄] adj. [L asininus < asinus, ass] of or like an ass; esp., having qualities regarded as characteristic of asses; stupid, silly, obstinate, etc. SYN. SILLY asininely adv … English World dictionary
asinine — adj. asinine to + inf. (it was asinine to behave like that) * * * [ æsɪnaɪn] asinine to + inf. (it was asinine to behave like that) … Combinatory dictionary
asinine — asininely, adv. asininity /as euh nin i tee/, n. /as euh nuyn /, adj. 1. foolish, unintelligent, or silly; stupid: It is surprising that supposedly intelligent people can make such asinine statements. 2. of or like an ass: asinine obstinacy;… … Universalium
asinine — [[t]æ̱sɪnaɪn[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe something or someone as asinine, you mean that they are very foolish. [FORMAL] I have never heard such an asinine discussion. Syn: idiotic, moronic … English dictionary
asinine — adjective Etymology: Latin asininus, from asinus ass Date: 15th century 1. extremely or utterly foolish < an asinine excuse > 2. of, relating to, or resembling an ass Synonyms: see simple • asininely adverb … New Collegiate Dictionary
