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as·i·nine

(ăsə-nīn′)

adj.

1. Utterly stupid or silly: asinine behavior.

2. Of, relating to, or resembling an ass.

[Latin asinīnus, of an ass, from asinus, ass, of pre-Roman Mediterranean origin; akin to Armenian ēs, Greek onos, and Hieroglyphic Luwian -asna- in tarkasna-, ass, all probably ultimately from an ancient Near Eastern source akin to Sumerian anše, ass, and perhaps Akkadian atānu, she-ass.]

asi·nine′ly adv.

as′i·nini·ty (-nĭnĭ-tē) n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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