-ass

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ass"

English

Etymology

Partially from ass, and partially from a corruption or simplification of assed.

Suffix

-ass (originally African-American Vernacular, chiefly Canada, US, slang, vulgar)

2. Used to intensify an adjective.

   That's a big-ass wrench you've got there.

   • 2006 October 1, Dennis Lehane, “Refugees” (00:32:06), in The Wire, season 4, episode 4:

     Wilson: He's right. They endorse Royce, fine, 'the hell else they gonna do? But what they say and don't say from the pulpit the Sunday before the primary we still got a dog in that fight.
     Carcetti: I do this right, they respect it.
     Wilson: An' if they don't, at least they get to see a beggin’-ass white man on his knees. Always a feel-good moment for the folks.

   • 2012, Joss Whedon, The Avengers, Marvel Studios:

     I recognize that the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-ass decision, I've elected to ignore it.

   • 2018, “Work It”, in Working Class Woman, performed by Marie Davidson:

     You've got to work with me
     Now, I don't wanna see any fake-ass workers
     I need real builders

4. Used to convert an adjective into a noun for a person who has that trait.

   Don't be such a broke-ass—you can afford a fast-food run today!

6. Resembling.

   That's some Nixon-ass shit he's pulling.

   What's that formal-ass language you're using? We're at a party!

Synonyms

• (intensifier): as (New Zealand)
• (resembling): quasi-, para-, -oid, -form/-iform, -esque, -ish, -ly, (forms adjectives from nouns only) -like, -some, -y

Derived terms

English terms suffixed with -ass

See also

• assed

Anagrams

• SAS, SSA, SAs, Sas