a

I. noun (plural a's or as) Usage: often capitalized, often attributive Date: before 12th century 1. a. the 1st letter of the English alphabet b. a graphic representation of this letter c. a speech counterpart of orthographic a 2. the sixth tone of a C-major scale 3. a graphic device for reproducing the letter a 4. one designated a especially as the first in order or class 5. a. a grade rating a student's work as superior in quality b. one graded or rated with an A 6. something shaped like the letter A 7. capitalized the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letter A and by the presence of antibodies against the antigens present in the B blood group II. indefinite article Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ān one — more at one Date: before 12th century 1. — used as a function word before singular nouns when the referent is unspecified <

a man overboard

> and before number collectives and some numbers <

a dozen

> 2. the same <

birds of a feather

> <

swords all of a length

> 3. a. — used as a function word before a singular noun followed by a restrictive modifier <

a man who was here yesterday

> b. any <

a man who is sick can't work

> c. — used as a function word before a mass noun to denote a particular type or instance <

a bronze made in ancient times

> d. — used as a function word before a proper noun representing an example or type <

the attractions of a Boston or a Cleveland

> e. — used as a function word before a proper noun to indicate limited knowledge about the referent <

a Mr. Smith called to inquire about the job

> f. — used as a function word before a proper noun to distinguish the condition of the referent from a usual, former, or hypothetical condition <

a triumphant Ms. Jones greeted her supporters

> 4. — used as a function word with nouns to form adverbial phrases of quantity, amount, or degree <

felt a bit tired

> Usage: In speech and writing a is used before a consonant sound <

a door

> <

a human

>. Before a vowel sound an is usual <

an icicle

> <

an honor

> but especially in speech a is used occasionally, more often in some dialects than in others <

a apple

> <

a hour

> <

a obligation

>. Before a consonant sound represented by a vowel letter a is usual <

a one

> <

a union

> but an also occurs though less frequently now than formerly <

an unique

> <

such an one

>. Before unstressed or weakly stressed syllables with initial h both a and an are used in writing <

a historic

> <

an historic

>. In the King James Version of the Old Testament and occasionally in writing and speech an is used before h in a stressed syllable <

an huntress

> <

an hundred

> <

children are an heritage of the Lord — Psalms 127:3(Authorized Version)

>. III. preposition Etymology: Middle English, from Old English a-, an, on Date: before 12th century 1. chiefly dialect on, in, at 2. in, to, or for each <

twice a week

> <

five dollars a dozen

> Usage: see a II IV. verb Etymology: Middle English, contraction of have Date: 14th century archaic have <

I might a had husbands afore now — John Bunyan

> V. preposition Etymology: Middle English, by contraction Date: 15th century of — often attached to the preceding word <

kinda

> <

lotta

> VI. abbreviation 1. absent 2. acceleration 3. acre 4. adult 5. alto 6. anode 7. answer 8. ante 9. anterior 10. are 11. area 12. atto- 13. author