I.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.