Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In Greek grammar, a sign (′ ) placed before or over an initial vowel or ρ to show that it is aspirated, that is, pronounced as if h preceded it; the rough breathing. Thus, ο=ς = hos; ῤίς = hris.
  • noun An old Egyptian and Turkish silver coin: now only a money of account.
  • Rough; rugged; harsh; cruel; savage.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A Turkish money of account (formerly a coin), of little value; the 120th part of a piaster.
  • adjective Archaic Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce.
  • noun (Greek Gram.) The rough breathing; a mark (ʽ) placed over an initial vowel sound or over ρ to show that it is aspirated, that is, pronounced with h before it; thus "ws, pronounced hōs, "rh`twr, pronounced hrā"tōr.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun historical Any one of several small coins, circulated around the eastern Mediterranean area from the 12th to 17th centuries.
  • adjective Rough or harsh; severe, stern, serious.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun 20 aspers equal 1 kurus in Turkey

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French aspre (modern âpre), from Latin asper ("rough").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Middle English, from Middle French aspre or Italian aspro, both from Ancient Greek ἄσπρον (aspron), from neuter of ἄσπρος (aspros, "white"), from Latin asper ("rough, newly minted")

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Examples

  • The asper was a century before the time of which writes, the tenth part of a ducat; for the same tribute which the Byzantine writers state at 300,000 aspers the Ottomans state at 30,000 ducats, about 15000l Note, vol.p. 636.

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 6 Edward Gibbon 1765

  • The asper was a century before the time of which writes, the tenth part of a ducat; for the same tribute which the Byzantine writers state at 300,000 aspers the Ottomans state at 30,000 ducats, about 15000l Note, vol.p. 636.

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 6 Edward Gibbon 1765

  • And if I could add one asper in the scale of success, I would be with you heart and soul.

    The Sky Writer Geoff Barbanell 2010

  • Many Elk calves taken asper the locals in the area I hunt.

    My Favorite Flashlight 2008

  • The more ferocious snakes here include fer-de-lance Bothrops asper, coral snake Micrurus spp., boa constrictor Boa constrictor, palm pit-viper Bothriechis spp. and bushmaster Lachesis muta.

    Canaima National Park, Venezuela 2009

  • Effects of geography and bathymetry on growth and maturity of yellowfin sole, Pleuronectes asper, in the eastern Bering Sea.

    Fisheries and aquaculture in the North Pacific (Bering Sea) 2009

  • Below the trees, a layer of tall herbs and coarse grasses grows to 2 to 3 m in height, including Caperonia palustris, Echinochloa colona, Hibiscus asper, Hygrophila auriculata, Sorghum purpureosericeum, and Schoenfeldia gracilis.

    Lake Chad flooded savanna 2008

  • Among the amphibians, species of interest include Euproctus asper, Rana temporaria and R. pyrenaica.

    Pyrenees-Mont Perdu, France and Spain 2008

  • The snakes include the anaconda Eunectes murinus, fer-de-lance Bothrops asper, palm pit-vipers Bothriechis spp., coral snakes Micrurus spp., the bushmaster Lachesis muta and boa constrictor Boa constrictor.

    Central Amazonian Conservation Complex, Brazil 2008

  • Also present are several nationally rare species of reptiles and amphibians, including Indian monitor Varanus bengalensis, giant Asiatic toad Bufo asper and Asiatic giant frog Rana Blythii.

    Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand 2008

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