ace English · revision 7629

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1250|origins=la as}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈeɪ̯s/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English as, later ace, [[bor|fro|as|t=one at dice]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin [[m|la|as|t=a unit, one; a copper coin]] (genitive assis),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) perhaps from Etruscan,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) or related to Greek heîs, one.^(Etymonline) The as was the Roman pound, at first twelve ounces but reduced by devaluation to half an ounce.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==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.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Since a single spot was the lowest throw, ace in Middle English also meant bad luck or something of no value.^(Etymonline) The playing card with one pip is from 1533 (the 1530s).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Because the ace is often the highest card, senses of excellence arose in the 18th century as card-playing spread.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) An airman who had shot down many enemy aircraft is from 1917, after French as (1915), used earlier of top sportsmen;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) it soon extended to anyone who excels.^(Cresswell 2021) In tennis and badminton an unreturnable service is from 1889.^(OED 1989) ''Ace in the hole'', a concealed advantage, is from 1904, from stud poker,^(Etymonline) and ''an ace up one's sleeve'' from the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, to score an ace, is from 1922 in tennis,^(Etymonline) and in student slang, to get high marks, from 1959.^(Etymonline) A dollar is American slang from 1921.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1250 – as, one at dice.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1533 – the playing card.^(OED 1989)

+ * 18th century – the best.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1889 – in tennis.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1917 – a fighter pilot.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1922 – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A playing [[card]], die or domino with a single spot.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(tennis)'' A [[serve]] the opponent cannot return.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(golf)'' A [[hole in one]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A fighter pilot who has shot down several enemy aircraft.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' An expert at something.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(informal)'' Excellent; first-rate.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To serve an ace against an opponent.^(AHD)

+ # ''(informal)'' To get a top grade in an examination.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==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.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}