ace

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈeɪ̯s/^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English as, later ace, borrowed from Old French as (“one at dice”),^[2][3][4] from Latin as (“a unit, one; a copper coin”) (genitive assis),^[3][2][5] perhaps from Etruscan,^[2][3] or related to Greek heîs, one.^[3] The as was the Roman pound, at first twelve ounces but reduced by devaluation to half an ounce.^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

One at dice, the side of the die with one spot: before 1250 in Barnhart, about 1300 in the OED and Etymonline.^[2][6][3]

Semantic evolution

Since a single spot was the lowest throw, ace in Middle English also meant bad luck or something of no value.^[3] The playing card with one pip is from 1533 (the 1530s).^[6][3] Because the ace is often the highest card, senses of excellence arose in the 18th century as card-playing spread.^[3][2][4] An airman who had shot down many enemy aircraft is from 1917, after French as (1915), used earlier of top sportsmen;^[3][6][7] it soon extended to anyone who excels.^[7] In tennis and badminton an unreturnable service is from 1889.^[6] Ace in the hole, a concealed advantage, is from 1904, from stud poker,^[3] and an ace up one's sleeve from the mid-19th century.^[7] The verb, to score an ace, is from 1922 in tennis,^[3] and in student slang, to get high marks, from 1959.^[3] A dollar is American slang from 1921.^[6]

Timeline

• before 1250 – as, one at dice.^[2]
• 1533 – the playing card.^[6]
• 18th century – the best.^[4]
• 1889 – in tennis.^[6]
• 1917 – a fighter pilot.^[3][6]
• 1922 – the verb.^[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A playing card, die or domino with a single spot.
2. (tennis) A serve the opponent cannot return.
3. (golf) A hole in one.
4. A fighter pilot who has shot down several enemy aircraft.
5. (informal) An expert at something.

Adjective

1. (informal) Excellent; first-rate.

Verb

1. To serve an ace against an opponent.
2. (informal) To get a top grade in an examination.

Word family

• ace-high
• acey-deucey
• ace point
• ace in the hole

Related words

• as
• deuce

Usage notes

In Norfolk dialect ace and douce meant wholly, entirely.^[8]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)