Part 694

<h1>Ass</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>Ass</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>asse</ets>, AS. <ets>assa</ets>; akin to Icel. <ets>asni</ets>, W. <ets>asen</ets>, <ets>asyn</ets>, L. <ets>asinus</ets>, dim. <ets>aselus</ets>, Gr. <?/; also to AS. <ets>esol</ets>, OHG. <ets>esil</ets>, G. <ets>esel</ets>, Goth. <ets>asilus</ets>, Dan. <ets>\'91sel</ets>, Lith. <ets>asilas</ets>, Bohem. <ets>osel</ets>, Pol. <ets>osiel</ets>. The word is prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. <ets>ath<?/n</ets> she ass. Cf. <er>Ease</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A quadruped of the genus <spn>Equus</spn> <spn>(E. asinus)</spn>, 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.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<cs><col>Asses' Bridge</col>. <ety>[L. <ets>pons asinorum</ets>.]</ety> <cd>The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." <mark>[Sportive]</mark> "A schoolboy, stammering out his <i>Asses' Bridge</i>." <i>F. Harrison</i>.</cd> -- <col>To make an ass of one's self</col>, <cd>to do or say something very foolish or absurd.</cd></cs>

<h1>Assaf&oe;tida</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As`sa*f&oe;t"i*da</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Same as <er>Asafetida</er>.</def>

<mhw><h1>Assagai, Assegai</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As"sa*gai</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <hw>As"se*gai</hw> <tt>(#)</tt></mhw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Pg. <ets>azagaia</ets>, Sp. <ets>azagaya</ets>, fr. a Berber word. Cf. <er>Lancegay</er>.]</ety> <def>A spear used by tribes in South Africa as a missile and for stabbing, a kind of light javelin.</def>

<h1>Assai</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As*sa"i</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <ety>[It., fr. L. <ets>ad</ets> + <ets>satis</ets> enough. See <er>Assets</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>A direction equivalent to <i>very</i>; <as>as, adagio <ex>assai</ex>, very slow</as>.</def>

<h1>Assail</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As*sail"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Assailed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Assailing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>assailen</ets>, <ets>asailen</ets>, OF. <ets>asaillir</ets>, <ets>assailler</ets>, F. <ets>assaillir</ets>; <ets><?/</ets> (L. <ets>ad</ets>) + <ets>saillir</ets> to burst out, project, fr. L. <ets>salire</ets> to leap, spring; cf. L. <ets>assilire</ets> to leap or spring upon. See <er>Sally</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to assault; to molest; <as>as, to <ex>assail</ex> a man with blows; to <ex>assail</ex> a city with artillery.</as></def>

<blockquote>No rude noise mine ears <b>assailing</b>. <i>Cowper.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>No storm can now <b>assail</b> The charm he wears within. <i>Keble.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an obstacle, difficulty, or the like.</def>

<blockquote>The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce <b>assail</b>. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; <as>as, to <ex>assail</ex> one with appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The papal authority . . . <b>assailed</b>. <i>Hallam.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>They <b>assailed</b> him with keen invective; they <b>assailed</b> him with still keener irony. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See <er>Attack</er>.</syn>

<h1>Assailable</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As*sail"a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being assailed.</def>

<h1>Assailant</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As*sail"ant</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>assaillant</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>assaillir</ets>.]</ety> <def>Assailing; attacking.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Assailant</h1> <Xpage=90>

<hw>As*sail"ant</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>assaillant</ets>.]</ety> <def>One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an assailer.</def>