Equus asinus
- noun
- /ˈɛkwəs ˈeɪsɪnəs/
- Specialized
:
Equus asinus
- The Equus asinus is often used for carrying heavy loads.
Examples
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Unlike horses, Equus asinus can survive on much rougher terrain and sparser vegetation.
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The Equus asinus is widely domesticated in many parts of the world.
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Scientists conducted genetic studies on Equus asinus to learn about its ancestry.
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Many farmers rely on Equus asinus for their daily work.
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Farmers in many countries use Equus asinus to help with carrying heavy equipment.
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The Equus asinus is known for its ability to endure harsh conditions and long hours of work.
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In rural communities, Equus asinus are often seen as valuable companions for transporting goods.
Synonyms
111
1.0
A small animal like a horse with long ears often used to carry loads
A strong animal with long ears that people use to carry loads on farms
Surface Forms
Morphology
Equus + asinus
This is a Latin taxonomic binomial rather than a compositional English phrase: 'Equus' marks the genus but 'asinus' is not an English lexical item (and is marked as not found in the dictionary). Knowing the genus label alone does not let a B1 learner infer the common-animal meaning unless they also know Latin/taxonomic conventions or that 'asinus' denotes the donkey, so the meaning is not transparently derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Equus asinus comes from Latin words: equus means 'horse' and asinus means 'donkey'. In ancient Rome, donkeys were used to carry heavy loads, so the name points to a horse-like animal used for work. That's why Equus asinus is the formal name for the 'donkey' we know today.