a

Unicode name	LATIN SMALL LETTER A
Unicode block	Basic Latin
Codepoint	U+0061
` ← Basic Latin → b

§Etymology 1Edit

Modification of capital letter A, from Latin A, from Ancient Greek letter Α (A).

§PronunciationEdit

• (letter, most languages): IPA^(key): /ɑː/, /a/

• IPA

  (file)

§LetterEdit

a lower case (upper case A)

1. The first letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.

§SymbolEdit

a

1. (phonetics) Used in the International Phonetic Alphabet and in several romanization systems of non-Latin scripts to represent an open front unrounded vowel.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script): Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
• (Variations of letter A): Áá Àà Ââ Ǎǎ Ăă Ãã Ảả Ȧȧ Ạạ Ää Åå Ḁḁ Āā Ąą ᶏ Ⱥⱥ Ȁȁ Ấấ Ầầ Ẫẫ Ẩẩ Ậậ Ắắ Ằằ Ẵẵ Ẳẳ Ặặ Ǻǻ Ǡǡ Ǟǟ Ȁȁ Ȃȃ Ɑɑ ᴀ Ɐɐ ɒ Ａａ Ææ Ǽǽ Ǣǣ Ꜳꜳ Ꜵꜵ Ꜷꜷ Ꜹꜹ Ꜻꜻ
• For more variations, see Appendix:Variations of "a".

§External linksEdit

• A on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

§Etymology 2Edit

Abbreviation ^{[please replace this header]} of atto-, from Danish and Norwegian atten (“eighteen”).

§SymbolEdit

a

1. atto-, the prefix for 10^-18 in the International System of Units.

§Etymology 3Edit

From Latin annus

§SymbolEdit

a

1. A year in SI Units, specifically a Julian year or exactly 365.25 days.

§Etymology 4Edit

Abbreviation ^{[please replace this header]}

§SymbolEdit

a

1. An are, a unit of area of which 100 comprise a hectare; ares.
2. (physics) acceleration

Other representations of A:

NATO phonetic: Alpha Morse code: ·– Braille: ⠁ ASL Manual: A

Signal flag:

Semaphore:

• Letter styles
• 

  Capital and lowercase versions of A, in normal and italic type

• 

  Uppercase and lowercase A in Fraktur

• 

  Approximate form of Greek upper case Α (a, “alpha”) that was the source for both common variants of aA in uncial script

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§Etymology 1Edit

From Middle English and Old English lower case letter a and split of Middle English and Old English lower case letter æ.

• Old English lower case letter a from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case letter a of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚪ (a, “āc”), derived from Runic letter ᚫ (a, “Ansuz”).
• Old English lower case letter æ from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case ligature æ of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚫ (æ, “æsc”), also derived from Runic letter ᚫ (a, “Ansuz”).

§Alternative formsEdit

• (Gregg Shorthand) · (dot)

§PronunciationEdit

• (letter name)
  • (UK, US) IPA^(key): /eɪ/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

  • (Australia) IPA^(key): /æɪ/
  • Rhymes: -eɪ

  The current pronunciation resulted from the Great Vowel Shift. Before the early part of the 17th century, the pronunciation was similar to that in other languages.

• (phoneme) IPA^(key): /æ/, /ɑː/, /eɪ/, ...

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A, plural as or a's)

1. The first letter of the English alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.

§Usage notesEdit

In English, the letter a usually denotes the near-open front unrounded vowel (IPA^(key): /æ/), as in pad, the open back unrounded vowel (IPA^(key): /ɑː/) as in father, or, followed by another vowel, the diphthong IPA^(key): /eɪ/, as in ace.

a is the third-most common letter in English.

§Derived termsEdit

• Digraph sequences: ae, ah, ai, au, aw, ay, ea, eau, ia, oa, ua

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) letter; Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz

§Cardinal numberEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The ordinal number first, derived from this letter of the English alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.

§NounEdit

a (plural a's or as or aes)^[1]

1. The name of the Latin script letter A/a.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letter names) letter; a, bee, cee, dee, e, ef, gee, aitch, i, jay, kay, el, em, en, o, pee, cue, ar, ess, tee, u, vee, double-u, ex, wye, zee/zed ^{(Category: en:Latin letter names)}

§TranslationsEdit

§Etymology 2Edit

Middle English, from Old English ān (“one, a, lone, sole”). The "n" was gradually lost before consonants in almost all dialects by the 15th century.

§PronunciationEdit

• (stressed) IPA^(key): /eɪ/
• (unstressed) IPA^(key): /ə/

• Audio (US), stressed

  (file)

• Audio (US), unstressed

  (file)

§ArticleEdit

a (indefinite)

1. One; any indefinite example of; used to denote a singular item of a group. [First attested prior to 1150]^[2]

   There was a man here looking for you yesterday.

   • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page vii

     With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get […]

   • 2005, Emily Kingsley (lyricist), Kevin Clash (voice actor), “A Cookie is a Sometime Food”, Sesame Street, season 36, Sesame Workshop:

     Hoots the Owl: Yes a, fruit, is a ^[sic], any, time, food!

2. Used in conjunction with the adjectives score, dozen, hundred, thousand, and million, as a function word.

   I've seen it happen a hundred times.

3. One certain or particular; any single. [First attested between around 1150 to 1350]^[2]

   We've received an interesting letter from a Mrs. Miggins of London.

4. The same; one. [16th Century]^[2]

   We are of a mind on matters of morals.

5. Any, every; used before a noun which has become modified to limit its scope;^[1] also used with a negative to indicate not a single one.^[3]

   A man who dies intestate leaves his children troubles and difficulties.

   He fell all that way, and hasn't a bump on his head?

6. Used before plural nouns modified by few, good many, couple, great many, etc.
7. Someone or something like; similar to;^[3] Used before a proper noun to create an example out of it.

   The center of the village was becoming a Times Square.

§Usage notesEdit

• The article an is used before vowel sounds, and a before consonant sounds.

§TranslationsEdit

§Etymology 3Edit

• From Middle English a, o, from Old English a-, an, on.
• Unstressed form of on.

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ə/

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. (archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto. [First attested before 1150]^[2]

   Stand a tiptoe.

2. To do with separation; In, into. [First attested before 1150]^[2]

   Torn a pieces.

3. To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by. [First attested before 1150]^[2]

   I brush my teeth twice a day.

   • 1601, Shakespeare, Hamlet, IV-v

     A Sundays

4. (obsolete) To do with method; In, with. [First attested before 1150]^[2]
   • Marlowe, C.

     Stands here a purpose.

5. (obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In. [First attested before 1150]^[2]

   A God’s name.

6. To do with status; In. [First attested before 1150]^[2]
   • Bible (II Chronicles 2:18)

     To set the people a worke.

7. (archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing. [First attested before 1150]^[2]
   • 1964, Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’

     The times, they are a-changin'.

8. (archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in. [16th century]^[2]
   • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare

     It was a doing.

   • 1611, King James Bible, Hebrews 11-21

     Jacob, when he was a dying

9. (archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into. [16th century]^[2]

§Usage notesEdit

• (position, direction): Can also be attached without a hyphen, as aback, ahorse, afoot. See a-

1. (separation): Can also be attached without hyphen, as asunder. See a-
2. (status): Can also be attached without hyphen, as afloat, awake. See a-.
3. (process): Can also be attached with or without hyphen, as a-changing

§Etymology 4Edit

From Middle English a, ha contraction of have, or haven.

§Alternative formsEdit

• 'a, 'a', ha, ha'

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ə/

§VerbEdit

a (third-person singular simple present -, present participle -, simple past and past participle -)

1. ​ (archaic or slang) Have. [between 1150 and 1350, continued in some use until 1650; used again after 1950]

   I'd a come, if you'd a asked.

   • 1604 (facsimile printed between 1830 and 1910), William Shakespeare, Hamlet:

     So would I a done by yonder ſunne

     And thou hadſt not come to my bed.

§Derived termsEdit

§Usage notesEdit

• Now often attached to preceding auxiliary verb. See -a.

§Etymology 5Edit

• (he): From Middle English a, ha (“he”), unstressed variant of he, from Old English hē.
• (she): From Middle English a, ha, unstressed variant of heo, hie, hi, from Old English hēo, hīo, hī feminine of hē (“he”).
• (they): From Middle English a, ha, unstressed variant of hie, hi, from Old English hīe, hī plural of hē (“he”).
• (it): From Middle English a, ha, unstressed variant of he, heo, from Old English hit (“it”).
• (I): From Middle English variant of the word I.

§Alternative formsEdit

• 'a

§PronunciationEdit

• (PR) IPA^(key): /ə/
• (it): (PR) IPA^(key): /ə/, /ɑ/

§PronounEdit

a

1. (obsolete outside England and Scotland dialects) He. [1150-1900]^[2]
   • 1599, Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, III-ii:

     a’ brushes his hat o’ mornings.

   • 1874 Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd (Barnes & Noble Classics reprint [reset], 2005, chapter 5, page 117; from "Hardy's 1912 Wessex edition"):

     "And how Farmer James would cuss, and call thee a fool, wouldn't he, Joseph, when 'a seed his name looking so inside-out-like?" continued Matthew Moon, with feeling. / "Ay — 'a would," said Joseph meekly.

§Etymology 6Edit

Variant spelling of ah.

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ə/, /ɑː/

§InterjectionEdit

a

1. A meaningless syllable; ah.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale, IV-iii:

     A merry heart goes all the day

     Your sad tires in a mile-a

   • (Can we date this quote?) Avery, I Love to Singa:

     I love to sing-a

     About the moon-a and the June-a and the Spring-a.

§Etymology 7Edit

From Middle English, contraction of of.

§PronunciationEdit

• (US) IPA^(key): /ə/

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. (archaic, slang) Of.

   The name of John a Gaunt.

   • a. 1597, Shakespeare, Henry IV Part 1, I-ii

     What time a day is it?

   • 1598, Ben Jonson, Every man in his humour

     It’s six a clock.

   • 1931 (created) - 2009 (revived) - 2011 (viral video) - 2012 (film version), Cups (When I'm Gone)

     Two bottles 'a whiskey for the way^[4]

§Usage notesEdit

• Often attached without a hyphen to preceding word.

§Etymology 8Edit

From Middle English (Northern dialect) aw, alteration of all.

§PronunciationEdit

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɔ/

§Alternative formsEdit

• a'

§AdverbEdit

a (not comparable)

1. (chiefly Scotland) All. [First attested from 1350 to 1470.]

§AdjectiveEdit

a (not comparable)

1. (chiefly Scotland) All. [First attested from 1350 to 1470.]

§Etymology 9Edit

Symbols

§SymbolEdit

a

1. Distance from leading edge to aerodynamic center.
2. specific absorption coefficient
3. specific rotation
4. allele (recessive)

§See alsoEdit

• For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.

§StatisticsEdit

• Most common English words before 1923: little · now · then · #79: a · should · can · made

§ReferencesEdit

• Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 1
• Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 [1909], ISBN 0-87779-101-5)
• Christine A. Lindberg (editor), The Oxford College Dictionary, 2nd edition (Spark Publishing, 2007 [2002], ISBN 978-1-4114-0500-4), page 1

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Gove, Philip Babcock, (1976)
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12} Brown, Lesley, (2003)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Lindberg, Christine A. (2007)
4. ^ YouTube video with lyrics

§External linksEdit

• a at OneLook Dictionary Search
• a in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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§NounEdit

a

1. house

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§DeterminerEdit

a

1. this

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§Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Albanian *(h)au, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu- (“that”). Cognate to Ancient Greek αὖ (aû, “on the other hand, again”). A proclitic disjunctive particle, used with one or more parts of the sentence.

§ParticleEdit

a

1. or
2. there

§Etymology 2Edit

From Proto-Albanian *(h)an, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en (“there”). Cognate to Latin an (“yes, perhaps”). Interrogative particle, usually used proclitically in simple sentences.

§ParticleEdit

a

1. probably, perhaps

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§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ãː/

§NounEdit

a

1. tree

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§EtymologyEdit

From Latin illa.

§ArticleEdit

a f sg

1. the

   a luenga aragonesa ― the Aragonese language

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§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to, towards

§Derived termsEdit

• al

§NounEdit

a f

1. a (name of the letter A, a)

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§LetterEdit

a lower case (upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Azeri alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) hərf; Aa, Bb, Cc, Çç, Dd, Ee, Əə, Ff, Gg, Ğğ, Hh, Xx, Iı, İi, Jj, Kk, Qq, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Öö, Pp, Rr, Ss, Şş, Tt, Uu, Üü, Vv, Yy, Zz

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§ArticleEdit

a

1. a

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§Etymology 1Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Catalan alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§Derived termsEdit

• no saber ni la a

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) alfabet català; Aa, Bb, Cc, (Çç), Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, (L·Ll·l), Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz

§Etymology 2Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• (Eastern) IPA^(key): /ə/
• (Western) IPA^(key): /a/

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. in, at; indicating a particular time or place

   Sóc a Barcelona.

   I am in Barcelona.

2. to; indicating movement towards a particular place

   Vaig a Barcelona.

   I'm going to Barcelona.

3. to; indicating a target or indirect object

   Escric una carta a la meva àvia.

   I'm writing my grandmother a letter.

4. per
5. by

   dia a dia.

   day by day.

§Usage notesEdit

When the preposition a is followed by a masculine definite article, el or els, it is contracted with it to the forms al and als respectively. If el would be elided to the form l’ because it is before a word beginning with a vowel, the elision to a l’ takes precedence over contracting to al.

The same occurs with the salat article es, to form as except where es would be elided to s’.

§Derived termsEdit

• al
• als
• as
• cap a
• per a

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§PronunciationEdit

• audio

  (file)

§ConjunctionEdit

a

1. and

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§EtymologyEdit

From Latin ad.

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to
2. at

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§Etymology 1Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /æː/, [ˈæːˀ]
• Rhymes: -æː

• Audio (Copenhagen)

  (file)

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the English alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) bogstav; Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz, Ææ, Øø, Åå

§Etymology 2Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /æː/, [ˈæːˀ]
• Rhymes: -æː

• Audio (Copenhagen)

  (file)

§NounEdit

a n (singular definite a'et, plural indefinite a'er)

1. The first letter of the Danish alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§InflectionEdit

§Etymology 3Edit

§Alternative formsEdit

• à (unofficial but common)

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/, [ˈaˀ]
• Rhymes: -a, Rhymes: -æː

• Audio (Copenhagen)

  (file)

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. of, of...each, each containing
2. at
3. to, or

§Etymology 4Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /æː/, [ˈæːˀ]
• Rhymes: -æː

• Audio (Copenhagen)

  (file)

§VerbEdit

a

1. imperative of ae

---

§PronunciationEdit

• (letter name): IPA^(key): /aː/

• Audio

  (file)

§Etymology 1Edit

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Dutch alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) letter; Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz

§Etymology 2Edit

Wikipedia ^nl

From Middle Dutch aa, from Old Dutch ā, from Proto-Germanic *ahwō. Cognate with Old English ēa, Old High German aha (German Ache), Old Norse á (Swedish å).

§Alternative formsEdit

• aa (especially in names)
• ie

§NounEdit

a f (plural a's, diminutive aatje n)

1. (archaic) a stream or water

§Related termsEdit

• eiland

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§RomanizationEdit

a

1. Manuel de Codage transliteration of ˤ.

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§PronunciationEdit

• (letter name): IPA^(key): /a/
• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /a/

• Audio

  (file)

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Esperanto alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) litero; Aa, Bb, Cc, Ĉĉ, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Ĝĝ, Hh, Ĥĥ, Ii, Jj, Ĵĵ, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Ŝŝ, Tt, Uu, Ŭŭ, Vv, Zz

§NounEdit

a (accusative singular a-on, plural a-oj, accusative plural a-ojn)

1. The name of the Latin script letter A/a.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letter names) litero; a, bo, co, ĉo, do, e, fo, go, ĝo, ho, ĥo, i, jo, ĵo, ko, lo, mo, no, o, po, ro, so, ŝo, to, u, ŭo, vo, zo ^{(Category: eo:Latin letter names)}

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§Etymology 1Edit

From Old Portuguese á, from Latin illa (“that”).

§ArticleEdit

a f (plural as, masculine o, masculine plural os)

1. feminine singular of definite article o
   • 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Chapter 1: Lengua Española:

     A grandeda da lengua española é indiscotibli, i sei estudio, utilización defensa debin sel algo consostancial a nos, […]

     The greatness of the Spanish language is unquestionable, and its study, use and defense must be something consubstantial to us, […]

§Etymology 2Edit

From Old Portuguese a, from Latin ad (“to”), from Proto-Indo-European *ád (“near, at”).

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to
   • 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Chapter 1: Lengua Española:

     A grandeda da lengua española é indiscotibli, i sei estudio, utilización defensa debin sel algo consostancial a nos, […]

     The greatness of the Spanish language is unquestionable, and its study, use and defense must be something consubstantial to us, […]

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§EtymologyEdit

From Latin a, form of A, from Etruscan 𐌀, from Ancient Greek Α (A, “alpha”), from Phoenician 𐤀 (“aleph”), from Egyptian 𓃾.

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ɛaː/
• Homophone: æ

§LetterEdit

a (upper case A)

1. First letter of the Faroese alphabet.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) bókstavur; Aa, Áá, Bb, Dd, Ðð, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Íí, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Óó, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Úú, Vv, Yy, Ýý, Ææ, Øø

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§AbbreviationEdit

a

1. approbatur

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§Etymology 1Edit

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the French alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§Etymology 2Edit

Quebec eye-dialect spelling of elle.

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§PronounEdit

a

1. (Quebec, colloquial) alternative form of elle (“she”)

§Etymology 3Edit

§SymbolEdit

a

1. are (100 square metres)

§Etymology 4Edit

§VerbEdit

a

1. third-person singular present indicative of avoir

   Elle a un chat.

   She has a cat.

§See alsoEdit

• à
• â

§External linksEdit

• “a” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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§Etymology 1Edit

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. A letter of the Fula alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§Usage notesEdit

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).

§Etymology 2Edit

§PronounEdit

a

1. you (second person singular subject pronoun; short form)

§Usage notesEdit

• Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).
• Used in all conjugations except the affirmative non-accomplished, where the long form is used.

§See alsoEdit

• aɗa (second person singular subject pronoun; long form), hiɗa (variant used in the Pular dialect of Futa Jalon)
• aan (emphatic form)

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§Etymology 1Edit

From Latin ad (“to, toward”).

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to, toward; indicating direction of motion
2. introduces indirect object
3. used to indicate time of an action
4. (with de) to, until; used to indicate the end of a range

   de cinco a oito ― from five to eight

5. by, on, by means of; expresses a mode of action

   a pé ― on foot

6. for; indicates price or cost

§Usage notesEdit

The preposition a regularly forms contractions when it precedes the definite article o, a, os, and as. For example, a o ("to the") contracts to ao or ó, and a a ("to the") contracts to á.

§Derived termsEdit

• á, ás
• ao, aos
• ó, ós

§Etymology 2Edit

From Latin illa, feminine of ille (“that”).

§ArticleEdit

a f (masculine singular o, feminine plural as, masculine plural os)

1. (definite) the

§Usage notesEdit

The definite article o (in all its forms) regularly forms contractions when it follows the prepositions a (“to”), con (“with”), de (“of, from”), and en (“in”). For example, con a (“with the”) contracts to coa, and en a (“in the”) contracts to na.

§Derived termsEdit

§PronounEdit

a f accusative (nominative ela, oblique ela, dative lle)

1. her: feminine singular third-person personal pronoun

§Usage notesEdit

The third-person direct object pronouns o, os, a, and as, have variant forms prefixed with l- or n-. These alternative forms appear depending on the ending of the preceding word. The l- forms (e.g. la) are used when the preceding word ends in -r or -s. The n- forms (e.g. na) are used when the preceding word ends in -u or a diphthong. These alternative forms are then suffixed to the preceding word.

In all other situations, the standard forms of the pronouns are used (o, os, a, as) and are not suffixed to the preceding word.

These direct object pronouns also form contractions when they immediately follow an indirect object pronoun. For example, Dou che a (“I gave you it”) contracts to Dou cha.

§Derived termsEdit

§Related termsEdit

• as
• o

§See alsoEdit

• Appendix:Galician pronouns
• se
• seu

§Etymology 3Edit

§NounEdit

a m (plural as)

1. a (name of the letter A, a)

---

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the German alphabet, written in the Latin script.

---

§EtymologyEdit

From Proto-Oceanic *pat, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *pat, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Austronesian *Səpat.

§NumeralEdit

a

1. (cardinal) four

---

§AffixEdit

a (after short vowels)

1. to be

   Maani ukiaavoq - It is autumn here.

   Uangaanngilaq - It is not me.

---

§ArticleEdit

a

1. the: definite article

§Usage notesEdit

This term only follows words that end with an oral (non-nasal) consonant and an oral vowel in that order, and can only modify singular nouns.

§See alsoEdit

• an
• la
• lan
• nan
• yo
• yon

---

§ConjunctionEdit

a

1. and (used between sentences)
2. until, up to

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. of, belonging to

§Usage notesEdit

• Used for acquired possessions, while o is used for possessions that are inherited, out of personal control, and for things that can be got into (houses, clothes, cars).

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ˈɒ/

• Audio

  (file)

§ArticleEdit

a (definite)

1. the

   a hölgy ― the lady

§Usage notesEdit

Used before words starting with a consonant.

§Related termsEdit

• az, for words starting with a vowel

---

§Alternative formsEdit

• (before a vowel) ad

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to

---

§EtymologyEdit

From Portuguese a, from Old Portuguese a, from Latin ad (“to”), from Proto-Indo-European *át (“near; at”).

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to
   • 1883, Hugo Schuchardt, Kreolische Studien, volume 3:

     […] , que da-cá su quião que ta pertencê a êll.

     […] , to give him his share which belongs to him.

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to, at
2. to, for (indicating purpose)

   sala a attender ― waiting room

§Derived termsEdit

• a in
• al

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ə/

§DeterminerEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. his, its

   a athair agus a mháthair ― his father and mother

   Chaill an t-éan a chleití. ― The bird lost its feathers.

§See alsoEdit

§DeterminerEdit

a (triggers h-prothesis)

1. her, its

   a hathair agus a máthair ― her father and mother

   Bhris an mheaig a heiteog. ― The magpie broke its wing.

§See alsoEdit

§DeterminerEdit

a (triggers eclipsis)

1. their

   a n-athair agus a máthair ― their father and mother

   a dtithe ― their houses

   a n-ainmneacha ― their names

§See alsoEdit

§DeterminerEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. how (used with an abstract noun)

   A ghéire a labhair sí! ― How sharply she spoke!

   A fheabhas atá sé! ― How good it is!

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. Introduces a vocative

   A Dhia! ― O God!

   A dhuine uasail! ― Sir!

   Tar isteach, a Sheáin. ― Come in, Seán.

   A amadáin! ― You fool!

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers lenition except of d’ and of past autonomous forms)

1. Introduces a direct relative clause, takes the independent form of an irregular verb

   an fear a chuireann síol ― the man who sows seed

   an síol a chuireann an fear ― the seed that the man sows

   an síol a cuireadh ― the seed that was sown

   nuair a bhí mé óg ― when I was young

   an cat a d'ól an bainne ― the cat that drank the milk

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers eclipsis, takes the dependent form of an irregular verb; not used in the past tense except with some irregular verbs)

1. Introduces an indirect relative clause

   an bord a raibh leabhar air ― the table on which there was a book

   an fear a bhfuil a mhac ag imeacht ― the man whose son is going away

§Related termsEdit

• ar (used with the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers h-prothesis)

1. Introduces a numeral

   a haon, a dó, a trí... ― one, two, three...

   Séamas a Dó ― James the Second

   bus a seacht ― the number seven bus

§PrepositionEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. to (used with a verbal noun)

   síol a chur ― to sow seed

   uisce a ól ― to drink water

   an rud atá sé a scríobh ― what he is writing

   D’éirigh sé a chaint. ― He rose to speak.

   téigh a chodladh. ― Go to sleep.

§PronounEdit

a (triggers eclipsis, takes the dependent form of an irregular verb; not used in the past tense except with some irregular verbs)

1. all that, whatever

   Sin a bhfuil ann. ― That's all that is there.

   An bhfuair tú a raibh uait? ― Did you get all that you wanted?

   Íocfaidh mé as a gceannóidh tú. ― I will pay for whatever you buy.

§Related termsEdit

• ar (used with the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)

---

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. at
   • 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 99:

     A poûpa, a prùa a xì doûto bandere,

     At the stern, at the bow everything is flags,

§ParticleEdit

a

1. emphasises a verb; mandatory with impersonal verbs
   • 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 99:

     A poûpa, a prùa a xì doûto bandere,

     At the stern, at the bow everything is flags,

---

§PronunciationEdit

• audio

  (file)

• IPA^(key): [a]

§Etymology 1Edit

From Latin ad. In a few phrases, a stems from Latin a, ab.^[1]

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. in
2. at
3. to
4. Indicates the direct object, mainly to avoid confusion when it, the subject, or both are displaced, or for emphasis

   A me non importa. ― It doesn’t matter to me.

   A lei non piace, ma a lui piace molto. ― She doesn't like it, but he likes it very much.

§Usage notesEdit

When followed by a word that begins with a vowel sound, the form ad is used instead.

When followed by a definite article, a is combined with the article to give the following combined forms:

a + article	Combined form
a + il	al
a + lo	allo
a + l'	all'
a + i	ai
a + gli	agli
a + la	alla
a + le	alle

§Etymology 2Edit

§NounEdit

a f, m (invariable)

1. a (name of the letter A, a)

§Etymology 3Edit

§VerbEdit

a

1. Misspelling of ha.

§ReferencesEdit

1. ^ Angelo Prati, "Vocabolario Etimologico Italiano", Torino, 1951

---

§RomanizationEdit

a

1. rōmaji reading of あ
2. rōmaji reading of ア

---

§NounEdit

a m

1. pig

---

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. in
2. at
3. to

---

§EtymologyEdit

Shortened from an older Baltic form *ā, which cognates with Lithuanian o (the same meaning).

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§ConjunctionEdit

a f

1. but, however, while, signal

§ParticleEdit

a f

1. and, but, so, well

---

§Etymology 1Edit

From the Ancient Greek "Α", likely through Etruscan.

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. (sometimes with littera) the first letter of the Latin alphabet.

   littera a ― the letter a

§Usage notesEdit

See Appendix:Mutations of the letter and sound a in the Latin language

§Etymology 2Edit

From Etruscan.

§PronunciationEdit

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /aː/

§NounEdit

ā (indeclinable)

1. The name of the letter A.

§Coordinate termsEdit

• (Latin’s names for the letters of its own alphabet): ā (A), bē (B), cē (C), dē (D), ē (E), ef (F), gē (G), hā (H), ī (I), kā (K), el (L), em (M), en (N), ō (O), pē (P), kū (Q), er (R), es (S), tē (T), ū (V), ix / īx / ex (X), ȳ (Y), zēta (Z)

§ReferencesEdit

• Arthur E. Gordon, The Letter Names of the Latin Alphabet (University of California Press, 1973; volume 9 of University of California Publications: Classical Studies), part III: “Summary of the Ancient Evidence”, page 32
  Clearly there is no question or doubt about the names of the vowels A, E, I, O, U. They are simply long A, long E, etc. (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū). Nor is there any uncertainty with respect to the six mutes B, C, D, G, P, T. Their names are bē, cē, dē, gē, pē, tē (each with a long E). Or about H, K, and Q: they are hā, kā, kū — each, again, with a long vowel sound.

§Etymology 3Edit

Shortened form of ab.

§PronunciationEdit

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /aː/

• Audio (Classical)

  (file)

§PrepositionEdit

ā (takes object in ablative case)

1. of; from
   • Heauton Timorumenos (“The Self-Tormentor”) by Publius Terentius Afer

     Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto.

     I am a man, I consider nothing that is human alien to me.

§Alternative formsEdit

• ab

§Derived termsEdit

• a lacte cunisque

§Etymology 4Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /aː/

§InterjectionEdit

ā!

1. ah

---

Wikipedia ^lv

§EtymologyEdit

Proposed in 1908 as part of the new Latvian spelling by the scientific commission headed by K. Mīlenbahs, which was accepted and began to be taught in schools in 1909. Prior to that, Latvian had been written in German Fraktur, and sporadically in Cyrillic.

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): [a]

• Audio

  (file)

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Latvian alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latvian letters) latviešu burti; Aa, Āā, Bb, Cc, Čč, Dd, Ee, Ēē, Ff, Gg, Ģģ, Hh, Ii, Īī, Jj, Kk, Ķķ, Ll, Ļļ, Mm, Nn, Ņņ, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Šš, Tt, Uu, Ūū, Vv, Zz, Žž

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): [a]

§NounEdit

a m (invariable)

1. The name of the Latin script letter A/a.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latvian letter names) latviešu burtu vārdi; a, garais ā, bē, cē, čē, dē, e, garais ē, ef, gā, ģē, hā, i, garais ī, jē, kā, ķē, el, eļ, em, en, eņ, o, pē, er, es, eš, tē, u, garais ū, vē, zē, žē

---

§PronunciationEdit

• (phoneme) IPA^(key): /ɑ/

§LetterEdit

a (upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Livonian alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) kēratēḑ; Aa, Āā, Ää, Ǟǟ, Bb, Dd, Ḑḑ, Ee, Ēē, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Īī, Jj, Kk, Ll, Ļļ, Mm, Nn, Ņņ, Oo, Ōō, Ȯȯ, Ȱȱ, Õõ, Ȭȭ, Pp, Rr, Ŗŗ, Ss, Šš, Tt, Țț, Uu, Ūū, Vv, Zz, Žž,

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): [a]

§ConjunctionEdit

a

1. and

---

§LetterEdit

a

1. The first letter of the Malay alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz

---

§RomanizationEdit

a (Zhuyin ㄚ˙)

1. Pinyin transliteration of 啊
2. Nonstandard spelling of ā.
3. Nonstandard spelling of á.
4. Nonstandard spelling of ǎ.
5. Nonstandard spelling of à.

§Usage notesEdit

• English transcriptions of Mandarin speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.

---

§PronounEdit

a

1. he, him (personal pronoun)

   A m busa ― He/she struck me.

   Y a busa ― They struck him/her.

2. she, her Template:qualfier
3. it (personal pronoun)

§See alsoEdit

---

§ParticleEdit

a

1. of
2. (determinative particle for names)
3. (particle for pronouns when succeeding ki, i, kei, and hei)

§Usage notesEdit

• When used in the sense of of, suggests that the possessor has control of the relationship (alienable possession).

---

§Etymology 1Edit

Old French, from Latin ad.

§Alternative formsEdit

• à (after 1550)

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to; towards

§Etymology 2Edit

Old French, from Latin habet.

§VerbEdit

a

1. third-person singular present indicative of avoir

---

§Etymology 1Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. O (vocative particle)

§Etymology 2Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§PronounEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. who, which, that

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. inserted before the verb when the subject of direct object precedes it
   • Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet:

     Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet a oed yn arglwyd ar seith cantref Dyuet.

     Pwyll Prince of Dyfed was lord of the seven cantrefs of Dyfed.

§Etymology 3Edit

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. used to introduce a direct question
2. whether (used to introduce an indirect question)

§Etymology 4Edit

Reduction of o (“from”).

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. used between a focused adjective and the noun it modifies
   • Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet:

     bychan a dial oed yn lloski ni, neu yn dienydyaw am y mab

     it will be small vengeance if we are burnt or put to death because of the child

§Etymology 5Edit

§Alternative formsEdit

• ac

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§ConjunctionEdit

a (triggers aspiration)

1. and

§Etymology 6Edit

§Alternative formsEdit

• ac

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§PrepositionEdit

a (triggers aspiration)

1. with

§Etymology 7Edit

From Proto-Celtic *ageti, third-person singular present indicative of *ago-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-.

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /aː/

§Alternative formsEdit

• aa

§VerbEdit

a

1. third-person singular present indicative of mynet

---

simpl. and trad.
啊

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): [a]

§InterjectionEdit

a (POJ, traditional and simplified 啊)

1. ah; oh

§Usage notesEdit

• Placed at the end of a sentence, or used by itself to express surprise.

§ReferencesEdit

• "啊" (in Taiwanese/English), On-line Taiwanese/Mandarin Dictionary (台文／華文線頂辭典). URL accessed on 2011-01-29.

---

§ArticleEdit

a

1. the

§ReferencesEdit

• Hofling, Charles Andrew (2011). Mopan Maya–Spanish–English Dictionary, University of Utah Press.

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ɑ/

§PronounEdit

a

1. I (first person singular pronoun)
   • 2000, Lisa M Johnson, Firstness of Secondness in Nauruan Morphology:

     a pudun

     1sing fall+Vn

     I fell

     […]

     a nuwawen

     1pers.sing. go+Vn

     I did go. (I left.)

     […]

     a kaiotien aem

     [1pers.sing.] [hear+Vn] [your words]

     I hear what you said.

     […]

     a nan imoren

     1pers.sing. FUT health+Vn

     I shall be cured (get better).

---

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Navajo alphabet, written in the Latin script.

   a = /a˨/

   ą = /ã˨/

   á = /a˥/

   ą́ = /ã˥/

   aa = /aː˨˨/

   ąą = /ãː˨˨/

   áa = /aː˥˨/

   ą́ą = /ãː˥˨/

   aá = /aː˨˥/

   ąą́ = /ãː˨˥/

   áá = /aː˥˥/

   ą́ą́ = /ãː˥˥/

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§Etymology 1Edit

From Latin de ab

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. from (referring to a place)
2. by (introducing the actor in the passive voice)
3. to (implying necessity)

§Etymology 2Edit

From Latin ad

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. in (locative: staying in a place of relative width)
2. to (locative: moving towards a place of relative width)
3. to (dative)

---

Wikipedia ^nb

§PronunciationEdit

• (letter name): IPA^(key): /ɑː/
• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ɑː/, /a/

§LetterEdit

a (lowercase, uppercase A)

1. The first letter of the Norwegian Bokmål alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz, Ææ, Øø, Åå

§NounEdit

a m (definite singular aen, indefinite plural a-er, definite plural a-ene)

1. the letter a

---

Wikipedia ⁿⁿ

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/ (example of pronunciation)

§LetterEdit

a (lowercase, uppercase A)

1. The first letter of the Norwegian Nynorsk alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§See alsoEdit

• (Latin script letters) Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz, Ææ, Øø, Åå

§NounEdit

a m (definite singular a-en, indefinite plural a-ar, definite plural a-ane)

1. the letter a

---

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to

§Usage notesEdit

When followed by the definite article li, a may optionally be combined with the article to give al.

---

§EtymologyEdit

From Proto-Germanic *aiw-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyu- (“vitality”). Cognate with Old Saxon eo, Old High German io, eo (German je), Old Norse ei, ey (English aye), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃 (aiws, “age, eternity”).

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ɑː/

§AdverbEdit

ā

1. ever, always

§DescendantsEdit

• English/ Scots: ay/aye

---

§Etymology 1Edit

§LetterEdit

a (lower case, upper case A)

1. The first letter of the Old French alphabet, written in the Latin script.

§Etymology 2Edit

Latin ad

§PrepositionEdit

a

1. to
2. towards
3. belonging to

   fil a putain ― son of a whore

§Derived termsEdit

• al
• au
• aux

§DescendantsEdit

• French: à

§Etymology 3Edit

From the verb avoir, aveir

§VerbEdit

a

1. third-person singular present indicative of avoir

---

§PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /a/

§Etymology 1Edit

From Proto-Celtic *sindom (“this”).

§Alternative formsEdit

• (relative pronoun): an

§ArticleEdit

a

1. nominative / accusative singular neuter of in
   • c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 15^b28

     A mbás tiagme-ni do·áirci bethid dúib-si.

     The death to which we go causes life unto you.

§PronounEdit

a (triggers eclipsis, takes a leniting relative clause)

1. that which, what
   • c. 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 112^b13

     Is demniu liunn a n-ad·chiam hua sulib ol·daas an ro·chluinemmar hua chluasaib.

     What we see with the eyes is more certain for us than what we hear with the ears.

§DescendantsEdit

• Irish: a

§Etymology 2Edit

§ConjunctionEdit

a (triggers eclipsis, takes a nasalizing relative clause)

1. when
   • c. 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 55^d11

     Ícaid-som didiu anisin, a n-as·mbeir “iudicia Domini abyssus multa”.

     He solves that then, when he says “iudicia Domini abyssus multa”.

   • c. 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 112^b17

     ⁊ a no·nda imbide

     and when thou art hedged round

§Etymology 3Edit

From Proto-Celtic *esyo (m and n), *esyās (f), and *esōm (pl); compare Welsh ei (“his, her, its”), eu (“their”); Old High German iro (“their”); and Sanskrit अस्य (asyá, “his, its”), अस्यास् (asyā́s, “her”), and एषाम् (eṣā́m, “their”).

§Alternative formsEdit

• á, ha

§DeterminerEdit

a (3rd person possessive) (triggers lenition in the masculine and neuter singular, an unwritten prothetic /h/ before a vowel in the feminine singular, and eclipsis in the plural)

1. his, its
   • c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 5^a23

     Cossóit a thuaithe fri Dia inso.

     This is a slandering of his folk before God.

   • c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 5^d10

     Bad hi forcitul .i. a chomalnad condib desimrecht do chách.

     Let it be in teaching, that is, to fulfill it [lit. "its fulfillment"] so that he may be an example to everyone.

2. her, its
   • c. 845, St. Gall Glosses on Priscian, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1975, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. II, pp. 49–224, Sg. 32^b6

     A mmuntar-sidi ad·rothreb-si lee, it he con·rótgatar in cathraig.

     Her folk whom she had with her, it is they who built the city.

3. their
   • c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 24^a38

     Ní epur a n-anman sund.

     I do not say their names here.

§DescendantsEdit

• Irish: a (“his, her, its, their”)
• Scottish Gaelic: a (“his, her, its”); an (“their”)

§Etymology 4Edit

From Proto-Celtic *ō (compare Welsh a, from Proto-Indo-European *ō (compare Ancient Greek ὦ (ô), Latin ō).

§Alternative formsEdit

• á

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers lenition)

1. O (vocative particle)
   • c. 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 134^d3

     Ar·troídfe-siu inna drochdaíni, a Dǽ, dia n-anduch, air is fechtnach a n-andach mani erthroítar húa Día.

     Thou wilt restrain the evil men, O God, from their iniquity, for their iniquity is prosperous if it be not restrained by God.

§DescendantsEdit

• Irish: a

§Etymology 5Edit

§ParticleEdit

a (triggers an unwritten prothetic /h/ before a vowel)

1. introduces a numeral

   a deich ― ten

§DescendantsEdit

• Irish: a

§Etymology 6Edit

From Proto-Celtic *exs, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs.

§PrepositionEdit

a (combined with plural article asnaib, combined with 1st singular possessive determiner asmo, combined with 3rd person possessive determiner assa)

1. out of
   • c. 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 127^d6

     in tan ro·mmemaid re n-Abrachan forsna coíc riga bertar Loth a Sodaim

     when the five kings who carried Lot out of Sodom had been routed by Abraham

§Related termsEdit

• ess-

§DescendantsEdit

• Irish: as
• Manx: ass
• Scottish Gaelic: à

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