as Latin · revision 31744

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=234–149 BC, Cato}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈas], [ˈas.s]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈas]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''as''' ''m'' (genitive assis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A nominative ''assis'' is found in Pliny the Elder, and Varro has a genitive plural ''assum''.^(OLD 2012)

+ An older form was ''assārius''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) The nominative was probably ⟨*ass⟩; the as was first a rectangular bronze plaque weighing a pound, and became a round coin under the empire.^(de Vaan 2008) Ernout and Meillet suspected a loanword, perhaps from Etruscan, since [[m|la|lībra]] and [[m|la|nummus]] would also be borrowed words.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The Thesaurus reports a view that it is the same as [[m|la|assis|t=board]], named from the coin's original square shape.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato,^(de Vaan 2008) who says “what you do not need is dear at an as”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is the Roman copper coin and unit of money, at first weighing a pound and later reduced in weight;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Varro derives its name from ''aes'' “bronze”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) As the smallest coin it means a penny or farthing, and ''unius assis aestimare'' is to value at nothing, as in Catullus' “let us value all the gossip of stern old men at a single penny”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a unit it is a pound weight in Ovid, a ''iugerum'' of land in Columella, and in arithmetic the number one;^(OLD 2012) ''in assem'' is “in all, in full”.^(OLD 2012) In law it is a whole estate, and ''heres ex asse'' is the sole heir.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Vitruvius uses it of a round valve and Pliny the Elder of a round slice.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it as a copper coin or farthing, and in medieval texts it is an obol or halfpenny.^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato of something dear at an as.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro derives the name from ''aes''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of gossip worth a penny.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella of a unit of land.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – Its descendant enters English as [[m|en|ace]], “one at dice”, through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An ''as'', a Roman [[m|en|copper]] [[m|en|coin]], originally weighing a pound.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A coin of little value, a penny;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''unius assis aestimare'', to value at nothing.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A unit: a pound weight; a ''iugerum''; the number one;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''in assem'', in all, in full.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' A whole [[m|en|estate]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''heres ex asse'', the sole heir.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A round valve; a round slice.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sēmis]]

+ * [[bes]]

+ * [[dēs]]

+ * [[tressis]]

+ * [[nōnussis]]

+ * [[decussis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aes]]

+ * [[en|ace]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}