I. A.. Orig., a town in Lydia; afterwards the region around it; hence,
B. Adj.: Ā^sĭus , a, um, of Asia: “palus,” the marshy region on the river Cayster, Verg. A. 7, 701; cf. id. G. 1, 383, and Hom. Il. 2, 461; “Asia,” a nymph, Verg. G. 4, 343; cf. Hyg. Fab. prooem.—
II. A.. In an extended signif., Asia Minor, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 6; Hor. Ep. 1, 3, 5; Verg. A. 2, 557; Sen. Troad. 6; Vulg. Act. 19, 26; 21, 27 al.—Hence also for Pergamos, Liv. 26, 24; Vell. 2, 4; and, as a Roman province, or Proconsular Asia, κατ᾽ ἐξοχήν (ἡ ἰδίως καλουμένη Ἀδία, Strabo, 17, p. 118), Asia comprehended Mysia, Lydia, Caria, and Phrygia; cf.: “Namque, ut opinor, Asia vestra constat ex Phrygiā, Cariā, Mysiā, Lydiā,” Cic. Fl. 27; id. Imp. Pomp. 6; Vulg. Act. 2, 9; 6, 9; ib. 1 Cor. 16, 19 et saep.— Hence,
B. Ā^sĭus , a, um, adj., Asiatic (cf. Asiaticus): villa, Varr. ap. Non. p. 466, 3.— For Troas, Ov. M. 13, 484.—
III. In a still wider sense, the whole of the quarter of the globe Asia (hence the distinction Asia Minor, Oros. 1, 2), Plin. 5, 9, 9, § 47 sqq.—A poet. form, Ā^sis , īdis, Asia, Ov. M. 5, 648; 9, 448.
†† 2. asĭa , ae, f.; among the Taurini, rye, in pure Lat., secale, Plin. 18, 16, 40, § 141.