asininus

Asininus is a Latin adjective meaning donkey-like or asinine. In Latin, the base word asinus means donkey, and the adjectival form asininus (masculine), asinina (feminine), or asinimum (neuter) is used to indicate resemblance or relation to donkeys. The form asininus is sometimes encountered in Latinized scientific names as a descriptive epithet, but it is not a standard or widely used genus name in modern taxonomy. The more common approach in taxonomic naming is to create epithets that reflect a trait or origin and to ensure agreement with the gender of the genus.

In English usage, asinine is derived from Latin asinus and carries the sense of foolish or stupid, though this meaning is a later development and not a direct scientific label.

Asininus may also appear in historical or literary contexts as a descriptor for donkey-like characteristics in animals or in metaphorical language. Researchers and readers should distinguish between the Latin term and its English derivative asinine, which has a broader cultural usage.

See also: Asinus, donkey, asinine.