ăsĭna, ae, f. (dat. and abl. plur. asinabus rest only on the assertion of Prisc. p. 733 P.; Rhem Pal. 1365 P., and Phoc. p. 1707 P.: asinis, Plin. 11, 40, 95, 233, acc. to which it should be considered as masc.; cf. Schneid. Gr. II. p. 26; Charis. p. 39, and Rudd. I. p. 50, n. 31) [asinus]. I.A she-ass, Varr. R. R. 2, 8, 1 and 6; so Col. 6, 37, 4; Plin. 8, 44, 69, 171; Pall. 1, 35 fin.; Vulg. Gen. 12, 16; ib. Num. 22, 21 sqq.; ib. Matt. 21, 2; ib. Joan. 12, 15 et persaepe: molendaria, Dig. 33, 7, 18.—II. Asina, a Roman cognomen, e. g. Cn. Scipio Asina, Macr. S 1, 6.
ăsĭnus, i, m. [acc. to Benfey, I. p. 123, and Hehn foll. by Curtius, an oriental word, perh. the Heb. , asina; cf. Goth. asilus; Lith. asilas; Erse, assul; Celt. asen or assen; Engl. ass; and Gr. o)/nos, which latter two forms the Lat. seems to have in combination], an ass.I.Lit., Cato, R. R. 10, 1; 11, 1; Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 14; 2, 6, 1 al.; Col. 6, 37, 8; 6, 7, 1 al.; Plin. 8, 43, 68, 167 sqq. et saep.; Vulg. Gen. 12, 6; ib. Isa. 1, 3; ib. Luc. 13, 15; 14, 5 et persaepe.—Prov.: qui asinum non potest, stratum caedit, i. e.
he
,
that cannot find the offender
,
avenges himself on the unoffending
, Petr. 45, 8: in tegulis, of an odd appearance, id. 45, 63: ad lyram, of an awkward man, acc. to Varr. ap. Gell. 3, 16: sepulturā asini sepelietur, of a contemptible and unworthy man, Vulg. Jer. 22, 19.—II.Trop., an ass, a dolt, simpleton, blockhead: neque ego homines magis asinos umquam vidi, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 4; Ter. Heaut. 5, 1, 4. —Hence, as a term of insult: Quid tu autem huic, asine, auscultas?Ter. Ad. 5, 8, 12; id. Eun. 3, 5, 50: Quid nunc te, asine, litteras doceam? Non opus est verbis, sed fustibus, Cic. Pis. 30.