I've read it in two replies so far, I'm English but they didn't teach me that one at school.
What is it supposed to mean?
2007-03-09 01:11:05 · 17 answers · asked by livinfortheweekend 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Latin based.
c.1610, from L. asininus "stupid," lit. "like an @ss," from asinus "@ss," also "dolt, blockhead" (see @ss (1)).
2007-03-09 03:07:24 · answer #1 · answered by uisignorant 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Asinine is an English word, though it is used in America.
The word quite literally means 'to be like an ***' i.e. stubborn and beligerent etc.
I would be careful using another word in your question...the derogatory term 'Yank'. The American people deserve to be treated as people, please call them 'Americans', in the same way you, I feel would prefer to be called 'English' rather than 'Limey' or perhaps 'Poms'. Nothing to do with your question, but I don't like to see obvious prejudice. (Bang goes my chance of a 'best answer')
I've just tried to post this and noticed that the meaning of the word has a series of asterix in place of the three letter word that gives the meaning, so instead of the asterix read 'a cross between a donkey and a mule' (This is PC gone mad!)
Cheers,
BobSpain
2007-03-09 09:27:41 · answer #2 · answered by BobSpain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an English word - You can find it in the Oxford English Dictionary.
You may find that Americans use it as they tend to have a better mastery of the English language than most Brits.
2007-03-09 09:25:51 · answer #3 · answered by ShogiO 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Must be! Unofficially it implies, arrogance, ignorance, and just being a jerk so to speak. We Yanks have mastered those traits over the yeas so we were hard pressed to be able to describe that behaviour. :)
2007-03-09 09:40:20 · answer #4 · answered by Darryl S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's English, directly from Latin. It means "donkey-like". It's where the word "bass" without the "b" comes from.
Funny you should connect it with Americans.....
2007-03-09 16:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's from the Latin 'asininus', meaning an ***, Therefore, it means something ***-like or very stupid, like your question. You may not have learned the word in school, but I bet you'll find it if you look in your dictionary. Or didn't your teachers show you how to use one?
2007-03-09 09:18:47 · answer #6 · answered by JelliclePat 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only reference I've found is in Vietnamesehttp://vi.wiktionary.org/wiki/asinine
EDIT - Found it !!
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/asinine
2007-03-09 09:15:18 · answer #7 · answered by mark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
asinine
c.1610, from L. asininus "stupid," lit. "like an ***," from asinus "***," also "dolt, blockhead"
Utterly stupid or silly: asinine behavior.
Of, relating to, or resembling an ***.
2007-03-09 09:49:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, it's just an adj. that means "like an ***" silly or stupid---can describe Yanks or Rebels or anyone being a butt hole--lol
2007-03-09 09:16:47 · answer #9 · answered by luminous 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Asinine is English and means 'Silly', 'Stupid' ..etc
2007-03-11 00:12:00 · answer #10 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋