A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

artifact --- 1821 (artefact) "anything made by human art," from It. artefatto, from L. arte "by skill" (ablative of ars "art;" see art (n.)) + factum "thing made," from facere "to make, do" (see factitious). Archaeological application dates from 1890.

artifice --- 1534, "workmanship," from M.Fr. artifice "skill, cunning," from L. artificium "making by art, craft," from artifex (gen. artificis) "craftsman, artist," from ars "art" (see art (n.)) + facere "do" (see factitious). Meaning "device, trick" (the usual modern sense) is from 1656.

artificial --- c.1382, "made by man" (opposite of natural), from O.Fr. artificial, from L. artificialis "of or belonging to art," from artificium (see artifice). Another early use was in the phrase artificial day "part of the day from sunrise to sunset" (c.1386). Artificial intelligence first attested 1956.

artillery --- c.1386, "warlike munitions," from O.Fr. artillerie, from artillier "to provide with engines of war," which probably is from M.L. articulum "art, skill," dim. of L. ars (gen. artis) "art." But some would connect it with L. articulum "joint," and still others with O.Fr. atillier "to equip," altered by infl. of arte. Sense of "engines for discharging missiles" (catapults, slings, bows, etc.) is from 1496; that of "ordnance, large guns" is from 1533.

artisan --- 1538, from It. artesano, from V.L. artitianus, from L. artitus, pp. of artire "to instruct in the arts," from ars (gen. artis) "art" (see art (n.)).

artist --- 1581, "one who cultivates one of the fine arts," from M.Fr. artiste, from It. artista, from M.L. artista, from L. ars (see art). Originally used especially of the arts presided over by the Muses (history, poetry, comedy, tragedy, music, dancing, astronomy), but also used 17c. for "one skilled in any art or craft" (including professors, surgeons, craftsmen, cooks). Now especially of "one who practices the arts of design or visual arts" (a sense first attested 1747). Artistic first recorded 1753; artistry 1868.

artiste --- 1823, from Fr. artiste, a reborrowing of artist after the sense of artist had become limited toward the visual arts and especially painting.

Aryan --- 1601, as a term in classical history, from L. Ariana, from Gk. Aria name applied to various parts of western Asia, ult. from Skt. Arya-s "noble, honorable, respectable," the name Sanskrit-speaking invaders of India gave themselves in the ancient texts, originally "belonging to the hospitable," from arya-s "lord, hospitable lord," originally "protecting the stranger," from ari-s "stranger." Ancient Persians gave themselves the same name (O.Pers. Ariya-), hence Iran (from Iranian eran, from Avestan gen. pl. airyanam). Aryan also was used (1861) by Ger. philologist Max Müller (1823-1900) to refer to "worshippers of the gods of the Brahmans," which he took to be the original sense. In comparative philology, Aryan was applied (by Pritchard, Whitney, etc.) to "the original Aryan language" (1847; Arian was used in this sense from 1839, but this spelling caused confusion with Arian, the term in ecclesiastical history), the presumed ancestor of a group of related, inflected languages mostly found in Europe but also including Sanskrit and Persian. In this sense it gradually was replaced by Indo-European (q.v.) or Indo-Germanic, except when used to distinguish I.E. languages of India from non-I.E. ones. It came to be applied, however, to the speakers of this group of languages (1851), on the presumption that a race corresponded to the language, especially in racist writings of French diplomat and man of letters J.A. de Gobineau (1816–82), e.g. "Essai sur l’inégalité des races humaines," 1853–55, and thence it was taken up in Nazi ideology to mean "member of a Caucasian Gentile race of Nordic type." As an ethnic designation, however, it is properly limited to Indo-Iranians, and most justly to the latter.

as --- c.1175, worn-down form of O.E. alswa "quite so" (see also). Equivalent to so; any distinction in use is purely idiomatic. Related to Ger. als "as, than."

asbestos --- 1387, fabulous stone, which, when set afire, would not be extinguished; from O.Fr. abeste, from L. asbestos "quicklime" (which "burns" when cold water is poured on it), from Gk. asbestos, lit. "inextinguishable," from a- "not" + sbestos, verbal adj. from sbennynai "to quench," from PIE base *gwes- "to quench, extinguish" (cf. Lith. gestu "to go out," O.C.S. gaso, Hittite kishtari "is being put out"). Meaning "mineral capable of being woven into incombustible fabric" is from 1607; earlier this was called amiant (1420), from L. amiantus, from Gk. amiantos "undefiled" (so called because it showed no mark or stain when thrown into fire). Pliny was the first to make the error of calling this asbestos. Supposed in the Middle Ages to be salamanders' wool. Prester John, the Emperor of India, and Pope Alexander III were said to have had robes or tunics made of it.

ascend --- 1382, from L. ascendere "to climb up," from ad- "to" + scandere "to climb." An O.E. word for it was stigan. Ascent is 1607, on model of descent. Ascension (c.1315) is the celebration of the ascent of Christ into heaven on the 40th day after the resurrection.

ascertain --- 1417, "to inform, to give assurance," from O.Fr. acertener "to assure," from a "to" + certain "certain" (see certain). Modern meaning of "to find out for sure by experiment or investigation" is first attested 1794.

ascetic (adj.) --- 1646, from Gk. asketikos "rigorously self-disciplined," from asketes "monk, hermit," from askein "to exercise, train," originally "to train for athletic competition, practice gymnastics, exercise." The noun meaning "one of the early Christians who retired to the desert to live solitary lives of meditation and prayer" is from 1673.

ASCII --- 1963, acronym from "American Standard Code for Information Interchange."

Asclepius --- god of medicine, L., from Gk. Asklepios, of unknown origin.

ascorbic --- 1933, from a- (2) + scorb(ut)ic "of scurvy" (from M.L. scorbuticus "scurvy"). In ref. to Vitamin C, which is an anti-scorbutic.

Ascot --- village near Windsor, Berkshire; site of fashionable race-meeting. Used attributively for clothes suitable for the event; esp. a type of tie (1908). The town name is lit. "eastern cottage."

ascribe --- 16c. restored spelling of M.E. ascrive (c.1340), from O.Fr. ascrivre "to attribute, inscribe," from L. ascribere "to write in, to add to in a writing," from ad- "to" + scribere "to write" (see script).

asexual --- 1830, as a term in biology, from a- "not" (see a- (2)) + sexual (see sex). In general contexts, attested from 1896.

ash (1) --- powdery remains of fire, O.E. æsce "ash," from P.Gmc. *askon (cf. O.N. aska, O.H.G. asca, Ger. asche, Goth. azgo "ashes"), from PIE base *as- "to burn" (cf. Skt. asah "ashes, dust," Arm. azazem "I dry up," Gk. azein "to dry up, parch"). Symbol of grief or repentance; hence Ash Wednesday (1297), from custom introduced by Pope Gregory the Great of sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents on the first day of Lent. Meaning "mortal remains of a person" is c.1275, in ref. to the ancient custom of cremation.

ash (2) --- tree, O.E. æsc "ash tree," also "spear made of ash wood," from P.Gmc. *askaz, askiz (cf. O.N. askr, O.S. ask, M.Du. esce, Ger. Esche), from PIE base *os- "ash tree" (cf. Arm. haci "ash tree," Alb. ah "beech," Gk. oxya "beech," L. ornus "wild mountain ash," Rus. jasen, Lith. uosis "ash"). Ash the preferred wood for spear-shafs, so O.E. æsc sometimes meant "spear" (cf. æsc-here "company armed with spears").

ashamed --- O.E. asceamed, pp. of ascamian "to put to shame," from a- intensive prefix + scamian "to put to shame" (see shame).

Ashanti --- 1705, one of the Akan people of central Ghana; native name.

ashen --- made of ash wood, c.1300 (see ash (2)); meaning "ash-colored, whitish-gray, deadly pale" is 1808, from ash (1).

Asher --- masc. proper name, biblical son of Jacob (also the name of a tribe descended from him), from Heb., lit. "happy."

Asherah --- 1863, wooden pillar used as symbol of Canaanite goddess Ashera.

Ashkenazim --- (pl.) "central and northern European Jews" (as opposed to Sephardim, Jews of Spain and Portugal), 1839, from Heb. Ashkenazzim, pl. of Ashkenaz, eldest son of Gomer (Gen. x.3), also the name of a people mentioned in Jer. li.27 (perhaps akin to Gk. skythoi "Scythians"); in Middle Ages, applied to Germany.

ashore --- 1586, from a- (1) + shore.

ashram --- religious hermitage, 1917, from Skt. asramah, from a-, adnomial prefix, + sramah "effort, toll, fatigue."

Asia --- from L., from Gk. Asia, speculated to be from Akkad. asu "to go out, to rise," in reference to the sun, thus "the land of the sunrise."

aside --- c.1380, "to one side, out of the way," from a- (1) + side. Noun sense of "words spoken so as to be (supposed) inaudible" is from 1727.

asinine --- c.1610, from L. asininus "stupid," lit. "like an ass," from asinus "ass," also "dolt, blockhead" (see ass (1)).

ask --- O.E. ascian "ask," from earlier ahsian, from P.Gmc. *aiskojan (cf. O.S. escon, O.Fris. askia, M.Du. eiscen, O.H.G. eiscon, Ger. heischen "to ask, demand"), from PIE *ais- "to wish, desire" (cf. Skt. icchati "seeks, desires," Arm. aic "investigation," O.C.S. iskati "to seek," Lith. ieskau "to seek"). Form in Eng. infl. by a Scand. form of the word (cf. Dan. æske; the O.E. would have evolved by normal sound changes into ash, esh, which was a Midlands and s.w. England dialect form). The variant in modern dialect ax is as old as O.E. acsian and was an accepted literary variant until c.1600. O.E. also had fregnan, frignan which carried more directly the sense of "question, inquire," and is from PIE root *prek-, the common source of words for "ask" in most I.E. languages. If you ask me "in my opinion" is attested from 1910.

askance --- 1530, "sideways, asquint," of obscure origin; perhaps a variant of askew. Other theories that have been put forth include an origin from M.E. ase "as" + O.Fr. quanses "how if," from L. quam "how" + si "if." Or from O.Fr. a escone, from pp. of a word for "hidden." Or from It. a scancio "obliquely, slantingly."

askew --- 1573, probably lit. "on skew" (see skew), perhaps from O.N. form of it, a ska. Earlier askoye is attested in the same sense (1430).

asleep --- 1154, from O.E. on slæpe. The parallel form on sleep continued until c.1550. Of limbs, from 1398.

Asmodeus --- evil spirit, prince of demons, from L. Asmodaeus, from Gk. Asmodaios, from Talmudic Heb. Ashmeday, from Avestan Aesh-ma-dæva, lit. "Aeshma the deceitful."

asp --- 1340, from M.Fr. aspe, from L. aspidem (nom. aspis), from Gk. aspis "shield;" the serpent probably so called in ref. to its neck hood.

asparagus --- late O.E. sparage, from M.L. sparagus, from L. asparagus, Gk. asparagos, probably from PIE base *sp(h)er(e)g- "to spring up" (though perhaps from a non-Gk. source). Respelled c.1600 to conform with Gk. Sparrowgrass is 17c. folk etymology, persisting into 19c., during which time asparagus had "an air of stiffness and pedantry" [John Walker, "Critical Pronouncing Dictionary," 1791].

aspartame --- artificial sweetener, 1973, from aspartic (1836), from asparagine, irregular formation from asparagus, so called because the compound was found in asparagus and other vegetables.

aspect --- c.1386, an astronomical term, "relative position of the planets as they appear," from L. aspectus "seeing, looking, appearance," pp. of aspicere "to look at," from ad- "to" + specere "to look" (see scope (1)). Meaning "the look one wears, the appearance of things" arose 1590s.

aspen --- c.1386, from adj. or gen. form of O.E. æspe "aspen tree, white poplar," from P.Gmc. *aspo (cf. O.N. ösp, M.Du. espe, O.H.G. aspa, Ger. Espe), from PIE *apsa "aspen" (cf. Lith. opuse). The current form in Eng. probably arose from phrases such as aspen leaf, aspen bark.

asperity --- c.1230, asprete "harshness of feelings," a fig. use, from O.Fr. asperete, from L. asperitas "roughness," from asper "rough," of unknown origin.

aspersion --- 1448 (implied in verb asperse), from L. aspersionem (nom. aspersio), from pp. stem of aspergere "to sprinkle on," from ad- "to" + spargere "sprinkle, strew" (see sparse). In theology, the shedding of Christ's blood. Modern sense of "bespattering with slander" first attested 1596.

asphalt --- c.1325, "resinous mineral pitch found in Biblical lands," from L.L. asphaltum, from Gk. asphaltos, probably from a non-Gk. source, possibly Semitic. Meaning "paving composition" dates from 1847.

asphodel --- 1597, from L., from Gk. asphodelos, of unknown origin (see daffodil). Taken in poetic use for a mythical deathless flower that overspreads the Elysian meadows. "To embathe In nectared lavers strewed with asphodel." [Milton, "Comus," 1634]

asphyxia --- 1706, "stoppage of pulse," from Mod.L., from Gk. asphyxia "stopping of the pulse," from a- "not" + sphyzein "to throb." The current sense of "suffocation" is from 1778, but it is a "curious infelicity of etymology" [OED] since victims of suffocation have a pulse for some time after breathing has stopped. Asphyxiate is first recorded 1836, originally transitive.

aspic --- 1789, "savory meat jelly," from Fr. aspic "jelly," lit. "asp," from O.Fr. aspe. Perhaps so called from its coldness (froid comme un aspic is said to be a proverbial phrase), or the colors in the gelatin, or the shape of the mold.

aspirate (n.) --- 1725, "sound of the letter 'H'," especially at the beginning of a word. From L. spiritus asper, lit. "rough breath," from asper "rough" + apiritus (see spirit). The verb is first attested 1700.

aspire --- c.1460, from O.Fr. aspirer "aspire to, inspire," from L. aspirare "to breathe upon," also "to seek to reach," from ad- "to" + spirare "to breathe" (see spirit). Aspiration, in the sense of "earnest desire for something above one" first recorded 1606. The notion is of "panting with desire," or perhaps of rising smoke.

aspirin --- coined 1899 in Ger. as a trademark name, either from Gk. a- "without" + L. Spiraea (ulmaria), the plant in whose flowers or leaves the processed acid in the medicine is found naturally. "Hence aspirin prop. means 'acetylo-salicylic acid which is gained not from the Spiraea ulmaria (but in a chemical way)' " [Klein]. Or it may be a contraction of acetylierte spirsäure, the Ger. name of the acid [OED].

ass (1) --- beast of burden, O.E. assa (Old Northumbrian assal, assald), prob. from O.Celt. *as(s)in "donkey," which (with Ger. esel, Goth. asilus, Lith. asilas, O.C.S. osl) is ultimately from L. asinus, probably of Middle Eastern origin (cf. Sumerian ansu). Since ancient Gk. times, in fables and parables, the animal typifies clumsiness and stupidity (hence asshead, 1550, etc.). To make an ass of oneself is from 1590. Asses' Bridge (c.1780), from L. Pons Asinorum, is fifth proposition of first book of Euclid's "Elements."

ass (2) --- slang for "backside," first attested 1860 in nautical slang, in popular use from 1930; chiefly U.S.; from dial. variant pronunciation of arse (q.v.). The loss of -r- before -s- attested in several other words (e.g. burst/bust, curse/cuss, horse/hoss, barse/bass). Indirect evidence of the change from arse to ass can be traced to 1785 (in euphemistic avoidance of ass "donkey" by polite speakers) and perhaps to Shakespeare, if Nick Bottom transformed into a donkey in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1594) is the word-play some think it is. Meaning "woman regarded as a sexual object" is from 1942. Asshole first attested 1935.

assail --- c.1230, from O.Fr. asaillir, from V.L. *adsalire "to leap at," from L. ad- "at" + salire "to leap" (see salient).

assassin --- 1531 (in Anglo-L. from c.1237), via Fr. and It., from Arabic hashishiyyin "hashish-users," pl. of hashishiyy, from hashish (q.v.). A fanatical Ismaili Muslim sect of the time of the Crusades, under leadership of the "Old Man of the Mountains" (translates Arabic shaik-al-jibal, name applied to Hasan ibu-al-Sabbah), with a reputation for murdering opposing leaders after intoxicating themselves by eating hashish. The pl. suffix -in was mistaken in Europe for part of the word (cf. Bedouin).

assault (n.) --- 1297, from O.Fr. asaut, from V.L. *adsaltus "attack, assault," a derivation of *adsalire (see assail). The verb is from c.1450.

assay (v.) --- 1330, from Anglo-Fr. assaier, from assai (n.), from O.Fr. essai "trial" (see essay).

assemble --- c.1250 (trans.), c.1300 (intrans.), from O.Fr. assembler, from L. assimulare "to make like, think like," later "to gather together," from ad- "to" + simul "together." In 14c. it also was a euphemism for "to couple sexually." Assemble together is redundant. Meaning "to put parts together" in manufacturing is from 1852; assembly line is first recorded 1914, Amer.Eng. Assembly is 1330, from O.Fr. assemblee.

assent (v.) --- 1297, from O.Fr. assentir, from L. assentare "to agree with," freq. of assentire, from ad- "to" + sentire "to feel, think" (see sense). The noun is c.1300.

assertion --- 1424, from O.Fr. assertion (14c.), from L.L. assertionem (nom. assertio), noun of action from L. asserere "claim rights over something, state, maintain, affirm," from ad- "to" + serere "join" (see series). By "joining oneself" to a particular view, one "claimed" or "maintained" it. Assertiveness "tendency toward self-assertion" is from 1881.

assess --- 1423, "to fix the amount (of a tax, fine, etc.)," from Anglo-Fr. assesser, from M.L. assessare "fix a tax upon," originally frequentative of L. assidere "to sit beside" (and thus to assist in the office of a judge), from ad- "to" + sedere "to sit." One of the judge's assistant's jobs was to fix the amount of a fine or tax. Meaning "to estimate the value of property for the purpose of taxing it" is from 1809; transf. sense of "to judge the value of a person, idea, etc." is from 1934.

assets --- 1531, from Anglo-Fr. asetz (singular), from O.Fr. assez "enough," from V.L. *ad satis "to sufficiency," from L. ad- "to" + satis "enough." Beginning as a legal term, "sufficient estate" (to satisfy debts and legacies), it passed into general use; meaning "any property that theoretically can be converted to ready money" is from 1583. Asset is a 19c. artificial singular.

asseveration --- 1556, from L. asseverationem (nom. asseveratio), from asseveratus, pp. of asseverare "to swear solemnly, act with earnestness, assert strongly," from ad- "to" + severus "strict, severe."

assiduous --- 1538, from L. assiduus "busy, incessant, continual, constant," from assidere "to sit down to," thus "constantly occupied" at one's work (see assess). The word acquired a taint of "servility" in 18c.

assiento --- 1714, "contract between the King of Spain and another power" (esp. that made at the Peace of Utrecht, 1713, with Great Britain for furnishing African slaves to the Sp. colonies in the Americas), from Sp. asiento, from asentar "to adjust, settle, establish," lit. "to place on a chair," from a sentar, from L. sedens, prp. of sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).

assign --- 1297, from O.Fr. assigner, from L. assignare "to mark out, to allot by sign," from ad- "to" + signare "make a sign," from signum "mark" (see sign). Main original use was in Eng. law, in transferences of personal property. The act of being so transferred was an assignation (c.1400). General meaning "to fix, settle, determine, appoint" is from c.1305. Assignment "a task assigned (to someone)" is from c.1848.

assimilate --- 1528 (implied in assimilative), from L. assimilatus, pp. of assimilare "to make like," from ad- "to" + simulare "make similar," from similis "like, resembling" (see similar). Originally trans. (with to); intrans. use first recorded 1837.

assist --- 1426, from M.Fr. assister "to stand by, help, assist," from L. assistere "assist, stand by," from ad- "to" + sistere "take a stand, cause to stand," from PIE *siste-, reduplicated form of base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Sporting sense (n.) is attested 1877 in baseball, 1925 in ice hockey. Assistant (n.) is from 1541.

assize --- 1303 (attested from 1164 in Anglo-L.), from O.Fr. asise "session," from fem. pp. of asseoir "to cause to sit," from L. assidere (see assess). Originally "all legal proceedings of the nature of inquests or recognitions;" hence sessions held periodically in each Eng. county to administer civil and criminal justice.

associate (v.) --- 1398, from L. associatus pp. of associare "join with," from ad- "to" + sociare "unite with," from socius "companion." The noun is first recorded 1533. Association "body of persons combined for some common purpose" is from 1659; meaning "mental connection" is from 1690.

assonance --- 1727, "resemblance of sounds between words," from Fr. assonance, from L. assonare "respond to," from ad- "to" + sonare "to sound" (see sound (n.1)). Properly, in prosody, "rhyming of accented vowels, but not consonants" (1823).

assort --- 1490, "to distribute into groups," from M.Fr. assortir, from O.Fr. assorter "to assort, match," from a- "to" + sorte "kind" (see sort). Assortment in the sense of "group of things of the same sort" is attested from 1759, in the sense of "group of things whether the same sort or not" from 1791.

assuage --- c.1300, from O.Fr. asouagier, from V.L. *adsuaviare, from L. ad- "to" + suavis "sweet, agreeable" (see sweet).

assume --- 1436, "to receive up into heaven" (especially of the Virgin Mary, e.g. Feast of the Assumption, celebrated Aug. 15, attested from 1297), from L. assumere "to take up," from ad- "to, up" + sumere "to take," from sub "under" + emere "to take" (see exempt). Early pp. was assumpt. Meaning "to suppose" is first recorded 1598. In rhetorical usage, assume expresses what the assumer postulates, often as a confessed hypothesis; presume expresses what the presumer really believes.

assure --- c.1375, from O.Fr. aseurer "to make sure," from V.L. *assecurar, from L. ad- "to" + securus "safe, secure" (see secure).

Assyria --- from L., from Gk. Assyria, short for Assyria ge "the Assyrian land," from fem. of Assyrios "pertaining to Assyria," from Akkad. Ashshur, name of the chief city of the kingdom and also of a god, probably from Assyrian sar "prince." (See also Syria).

Astarte --- Phoenician goddess identical with Gk. Aphrodite, from Gk. Astarte, from Phoenician Astoreth.

asteism --- genteel irony, polite mockery, 1589, from Gk. asteismos "wit, witticism," from asteios "of the town," from asty "town, city," especially "Athens."

-aster --- suffix expressing incomplete resemblance (e.g. poetaster), usually dim. and deprecatory, from L., from Gk. -aster, suffix originally forming nouns from verbs ending in -azein, later generalized as a pejorative suffix, e.g. patraster "he who plays the father."

aster --- flower genus, 1706, from L. aster "star" (see star); so called for the radiate heads of the flowers.

asterisk --- 1382, from L.L. asteriscus, from Gk. asterikos "little star," dim. of aster "star" (see star). The meaning "figure used in printing and writing to indicate footnote, omission, etc." first recorded 1612.

asterism --- 1598, from L. aster "star" (see star). Any grouping of stars, whether a constellation or not. The well-known "Big Dipper" is an asterism, not a constellation.

asteroid --- 1802, coined by Herschel from Gk. asteroeides "star-like," from aster "star" (see star) + -eidos "form, shape" (see -oid).

asthma --- 1398, from L. asthma, from Gk. asthma "a panting," from azein "breathe hard," probably related to anemos "wind."

astigmatism --- coined (in form astigmatic) 1849 by English scientist William Whewell (1794-1866), from Gk. a- "without" + stigmatos gen. of stigma "a mark, spot, puncture."

astonish --- 1340, astonien, from O.Fr. estoner "to stun," from V.L. *extonare, from L. ex- "out" + tonare "to thunder" (see thunder); so, lit. "to leave someone thunderstruck." The modern form (infl. by Eng. verbs in -ish, e.g. distinguish, diminish) is attested from c.1530.