# ass

> English word · Noun · IPA /æs/ · frequency rank #1,065

## Definitions
1. Any of several species of horse-like animals, especially Equus asinus, the domesticated of which are used as beasts of burden.
2. A stupid or inconsiderate person.
3. A compositor.

## Etymology
From Middle English asse, from Old English assa, back-formed from assen (“she-ass”), from Celtic (compare Old Irish asan, Old Cornish asen), from Latin asinus. Displaced Old English esol, from Proto-West Germanic *asil, also a loanword from the same Latin word. Sense “stupid person” from the animal's reputation for stubbornness, going back to antiquity (compare Latin asinus (“slow-witted person”)).

## Easily confused with
- **at** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-at)
- **aw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-aw)
- **AU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-au)
- **AZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-az)
- **av** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-av)
- **ay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-ay)
- **ax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-ax)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-ate)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-ave)
- **aye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-aye)
- **ATM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-atm)
- **awe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-awe)
- **axe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-axe)
- **aww** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-aww)
- **ATP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-atp)
- **Ava** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-ava)
- **aux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-aux)
- **att** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-att)
- **Avi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-avi)
- **AWS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ass-vs-aws)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ass