Agency Dictionary

Aûsu

nounPronunciation: /a.uˈsu/

In Portuguese: Aûsu

Culture & Identity

What does “Aûsu” mean?

An Old Tupi noun denoting love, affection, friendship, or benevolent regard.

Etymology

From Old Tupi, the language spoken along the Brazilian coast in the 16th and 17th centuries and recorded by Jesuit missionaries. The form belongs to the root aûsub, "to love". In the grammars and dictionaries of Old Tupi the noun built on this root is usually cited with the nominal ending -a, as aûsuba, "love". The letter û of the modern scholarly spelling stands for the semivowel w. The root is native to the Tupi-Guarani family, and the Guarani verb hayhu, "to love", is regarded as its cognate.

Usage note

A word of a language no longer spoken, quoted in its original form. The û is a glide, so the first syllable sounds like the ow of "how", and the stress falls on the last syllable.

Word family

Aûsub

Usage examples

I, personally, would say that Aûsu is a bridge as much as it is timeproof.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Issue.13 - AûsubApril 26, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

shogunatenoun: A feudal military dictatorship in Japan, headed by a shogun, in which loyalty and honour were central to its operation. The system was exclusive to Japan and did not exist in other Asian nations.
Monoclenoun: A single eyeglass lens designed to correct or enhance vision in one eye, held in place by the facial muscles around the eye socket.
samurainoun: A member of the warrior class of feudal Japan, bound by codes of loyalty and honour, who served under the shogunate system. In the article, the samurai class is one of the two groups with access to Noh theatre.
Bilingualadjective: Possessing the ability to speak two languages fluently, or conducted using two distinct linguistic mediums.
Decorumnoun: Behavior in keeping with good taste, propriety, and established standards of dignity.
espressonoun: A concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing pressurized hot water through finely ground coffee beans.
Heterogeneousadjective: Composed of diverse, dissimilar elements, individuals, or cultural traditions joined together.
Hinarionoun: A consecrated book or collection of received spiritual hymns sung in rhythm to structure and guide ceremonies in Santo Daime.
Hookahnoun: A traditional water pipe of Middle Eastern origin used for smoking specially prepared flavored tobacco.
Legacynoun: An enduring body of work, set of values, or material inheritance handed down from a predecessor to future generations.
Lineagenoun: Direct lineal descent from an ancestor, or an unbroken historical sequence of practitioners, ideas, or artistic traditions.

Also from these editions: terms

Agapenoun: A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
Androgynenoun: A mythical primordial being uniting male and female characteristics in a single unified body.
Aûsubverb: An Old Tupi transitive verb meaning to love, care for, or hold someone in deep esteem.
Benefactornoun: A person who supports, protects, or assists another individual through resources, rank, or mentorship.
Chivalrynoun: The medieval knightly code of conduct demanding honor, valor, courtesy, loyalty, and Christian devotion.
Erosnoun: A passionate, romantic, and often erotic love characterized by intense longing, attraction, and creative vitality.
Ludusnoun: A playful, flirtatious, and lighthearted form of love free from long-term obligations or solemnity.
Philianoun: A deep, reciprocal, and virtuous affection among friends or equals based on shared values and mutual loyalty.
Potionnoun: A liquid concoction endowed with purported medicinal, magical, toxic, or transformative powers.
Pragmanoun: A practical, enduring, and mature love built on long-term commitment, shared duties, and realistic expectations.
Storgenoun: Natural familial affection, especially the instinctive bond shared among parents, children, and siblings.