Webster dictionary was developed by Noah Webster in the beginning of 19th century. On this website, you can find definition for a- from the 1913 edition of Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. Define a- using one of the most comprehensive free online dictionaries on the web.
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Part of Speech: noun
Results: 1
1. A,
as a prefix
to English words,
is derived from various sources.
It frequently signifies
on or in (
from an, a forms
of AS.
on),
denoting a
state,
as in afoot,
on foot,
abed,
amiss,
asleep,
aground,
aloft,
away (
AS. onweg),
and analogically,
ablaze, atremble, etc.
AS.
of off,
from,
as in adown (
AS. ofd/
ne off the dun or hill).
AS. a- (
Goth. us-,
ur-, Ger. er-), usually
giving an intensive force,
and sometimes the sense of away,
on,
back,
as in arise,
abide,
ago.
Old English y-
or i- ( corrupted
from the AS.
inseparable particle ge-,
cognate with OHG. ga-, gi-,
Goth. ga-),
which,
as a prefix,
made no
essential addition to the meaning,
as in aware.
French a ( L. ad
to),
as in abase,
achieve. L. a,
ab, abs,
from,
as in avert.
Greek insep. prefix /
without,
or privative,
not,
as in abyss,
atheist;
akin to E. un-.
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