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| <k>a</k> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>I.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, <abr>a.</abr><sup>1</sup> (<abr>def.</abr> numeral)</b> <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> or <i><abr>dial.</abr></i> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[<abr>OE.</abr> <i>án</i>, one, of which the <i>n</i> began to disappear before a <abr>cons.</abr> about 1150. In the definite numeral sense, <i>án</i> and <i>á</i>, following the ordinary course of <abr>OE.</abr> long <i>á</i>, became in the south <abr>bef.</abr> 1300, <i>on</i> (<i>oon</i>, <i>one</i>), <i>o</i> (<i>oo</i>); and eventually <i>o</i> became <abr>obs.</abr>, leaving <i>one</i> as the form in all positions; while <i>an</i> and <i>a</i>, pronounced lightly and indistinctly, became the ‘indefinite article.’ See next word. But in the north <i>an</i> (or <i>ane</i>) and <i>a</i> were written in both senses, the stress or emphasis alone distinguishing the numeral from the article.]</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Apocopate form of <i>an</i>, <i>ane</i>, used only before a consonant. See <kref>ane</kref>, <kref>o</kref> a., and <kref>one</kref>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1200</b> <i>Trin. <abr>Coll.</abr> <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 39 <font color="darkmagenta">Ure drihten drof fele deules togedere ut of á man, þe was of his wit.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1300</b> <i>K. Alis.</i> 5955 <font color="darkmagenta">An eighe he had in his vys, And a foot, and no moo Iwys.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1350</b> Hampole <i>Prose Tr.</i> 32 <font color="darkmagenta">Some ere of a tre and some er of anoþer.</font> <b>1483</b> Caxton, <i>Geoffroi de la Tour</i>, lf. iiii b, <font color="darkmagenta">They satte att dyner in a hall and the quene in another.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><i>A</i> in the various forms <i>a</i>, <i>ae</i>, <i>eae</i>, <i>eea</i>, <i>yea</i>, <i>yà</i>, is still the regular form of the numeral <i>one</i> when used adjectively, in the northern dialects, the absolute form being <i>an</i>, <i>ane</i>, <i>ean</i>, <i>yen</i>, <i>yàn</i>, etc.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>II.</font></font></b> <b>a, <abr>a.</abr><sup>2</sup> (<abr>indef.</abr> article)</b> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(toneless <font color="darkslategray">ə</font>; <abr>emph.</abr> <font color="darkslategray">eɪ</font>)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Before a vowel-sound <b>an</b> (<font color="darkslategray">ən</font>, <abr>emph.</abr> <font color="darkslategray">æn</font>).</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[A weakening of <abr>OE.</abr> <i>án</i>, ‘one’, already by 1150 reduced before a <abr>cons.</abr> to <i>a.</i> About the same time the numeral began to be used in a weakened sense (usually unexpressed in <abr>OE.</abr> as <i>he wæs gód man</i>, ‘he was a good man’; <abr>cf.</abr> <abr>Chron.</abr> 1137 ‘he wæs god munec & god man,’ and 1140 ‘he wæs <i>an</i> yuel man’); becoming in this sense proclitic and toneless, <i>ăn</i>, <i>ă</i>, while as a numeral it remained long, <i>ān</i>, <i>ā</i>, and passed regularly during the next <abr>cent.</abr> into <i>ōn</i>, <i>ō</i>; see the <abr>prec.</abr> word. Though <i>an</i> began to sink to <i>a</i> in <abr>midl.</abr> <abr>dial.</abr> by 1150, it often remained <abr>bef.</abr> a <abr>cons.</abr> to 1300; <abr>bef.</abr> sounded <i>h</i>, <i>an</i> was retained after 1600, and somet. after 1700, as <i>an house</i>, <i>an heifer</i>, <i>an hermitage</i>. The present rule is to use <i>an</i> <abr>bef.</abr> a vowel-sound (incl. <i>h</i> mute, as <i>an hour</i>); <i>a</i> <abr>bef.</abr> a consonant-sound (including <i>h</i> sounded, and <i>eu-</i>, <i>u-</i> with sound of <i>yū-</i>, as <i>a host</i>, <i>a one</i>, <i>a eunuch</i>, <i>a unit</i>). But in <i>unaccented</i> syllables, many, perhaps most, writers still retain <i>an</i> <abr>bef.</abr> sounded <i>h</i>, some even <abr>bef.</abr> <i>eu</i>, <i>u</i>, as <i>an historian</i>, <i>an euphonic vowel</i>, <i>an united appeal</i>, though this is all but obsolete in speech, and in writing <i>a</i> becomes increasingly common in this position. <i>A</i>, <i>an</i> has been indeclinable in <abr>midl.</abr> and <abr>north.</abr> <abr>dial.</abr> since 1150, but vestiges of the <abr>OE.</abr> declension (as <abr>nom.</abr> <abr>f.</abr> <i>ane</i>, <abr>gen.</abr> m. <i>anes</i>, <abr>gen.</abr> & <abr>dat.</abr> <abr>f.</abr> <i>are</i>, <abr>acc.</abr> m. <i>anne</i>) remained much later in southern. In <abr>north.</abr> <i>an</i> was frequently written <i>ane</i> (with <i>e</i> mute), the use of <i>a</i> and <i>an(e</i> being as elsewhere; but about 1475 Scottish writers began to use <i>ane</i> in all positions, a practice which prevailed till the disuse of literary Scotch after 1600. Quotations illustrating the history of the forms:—</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><i>c</i> 1131</b> <i><abr>O.E.</abr> <abr>Chron.</abr></i> (Laud. <abr>MS.</abr>) anno 1125 <font color="darkmagenta">Se man ðe hafde an pund he ne mihte cysten ænne peni at anne market.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1150</b> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> anno 1137, <font color="darkmagenta">Wel þu myhtes faren all a dæis fare, sculdest þu neure finden man in tune sittende.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 221 <font color="darkmagenta">God þa ȝeworhte aenne man óf láme.</font> <b><i>a</i> 1200</b> <i>Trin. <abr>Coll.</abr> <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 47 <font color="darkmagenta">ȝif hie was riche wimman, a lomb.</font> <b>1205</b> Layamon I. 3 <font color="darkmagenta">A [<i><abr>masc.</abr></i>] Frenchis clerc, Wace wes ihoten, þa luuede he a [<i><abr>fem.</abr></i>] maide, þeo was Lauine mawe.</font> <b>1483</b> Caxton <i>Geoffroi de la Tour</i> E 4 <font color="darkmagenta">A baronnesse, ryght a hyghe and noble lady of lygnage.</font> <b>1532</b> More <i><abr>Conf.</abr> Tyndale</i> <abr>Wks.</abr> 1557 447/2 <font color="darkmagenta">We haue two articles in english, <i>a</i> & <i>the</i>: <i>a</i> or <i>an</i> (for bothe is one article, the tone before a consonant the tother before a vowell) is commen to euery thinge almost.</font> <b>1611</b> Bible <i>Acts</i> vii. 47 <font color="darkmagenta">But Solomon built him an house [<b>1881</b> <i>Revised</i> a house].</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> vii. 27 <font color="darkmagenta">An eunuch of great authority [<i>Revised</i> a eunuch].</font> <b>1732</b> Pope <i>Essay Man</i> iv. 78 <font color="darkmagenta">Nor in an hermitage set Dr. Clarke.</font> <b>1763</b> Johnson <i>Ascham</i> <abr>Wks.</abr> 1816 XII. 306 <font color="darkmagenta">An yearly pension.</font> <b>1823</b> Lingard <i><abr>Hist.</abr> <abr>Eng.</abr></i> VI. 219 <font color="darkmagenta">An eulogium on his talents.</font> <b>1850</b> Mrs. Jameson <i>Sac. & <abr>Leg.</abr> Art</i> 206 <font color="darkmagenta">A eulogium of Mary Magdalene.</font> <b>1857</b> Lever <i>Tom Burke</i> xxxix. 387 <font color="darkmagenta">A eulogium on their conduct.</font> <b>1843</b> <i>Penny <abr>Cycl.</abr></i> XXVI. 25/2 <font color="darkmagenta">In November [1835] the great seal was put to a charter creating a University of London.</font> <b>1847</b> Tennyson <i>Princess</i> i. 149 <font color="darkmagenta">All wild to found an University For maidens.</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>About the 15th <abr>cent.</abr> <i>a</i> or <i>an</i> was commonly written in comb. with the following <abr>n.</abr> as <i>aman</i>, <i>anoke</i>, <i>anele</i>. When they were separated, much uncertainty prevailed as to the division; thus we find <i>a nend</i>, <i>a noke</i>, <i>a nadder</i>, <i>an adder</i>, <i>an est</i>. In some words a mistaken division has passed into usage: see <kref>adder</kref>, <kref>newt</kref>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><i>c</i> 1420</b> <i><abr>Chron.</abr> Vilod.</i> 515 <font color="darkmagenta">And ryȝt with þat worde he made a nend.</font>]</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><i>A</i> is strictly <i>adjective</i> and can only be used with a substantive following. Meanings:—</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">1.</font></b> One, some, any: the oneness, or indefiniteness, being implied rather than asserted. It is especially used in first introducing an object to notice, which object, after being introduced by <i>a</i>, is kept in view by <i>the</i>; as ‘I plucked <i>a</i> flower; this is <i>the</i> flower.’ Used before a noun singular, and its attributes. <b><font color="indigo">a.</font></b> Ordinarily before the name of an individual object or notion, or of a substance, quality or state <i>individualized</i>, and before a collective noun, as <i>a tree</i>, <i>a wish</i>, <i>an ice</i>, <i>a beauty</i>, <i>a new ink</i>, <i>a greater strength</i>, <i>a second youth</i>, <i>a legion</i>, <i>a hundred</i>, <i>a pair</i>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 121 <font color="darkmagenta">Vre drihten wes iled to sleȝe al swa me dede a scep.</font> <b>1297</b> R. <abr>Glouc.</abr> 78 <font color="darkmagenta">He hadde a gret ost in a lutel stonde.</font> <b>1847</b> Longfellow <i>Ev.</i> i. i. 59 <font color="darkmagenta">A celestial brightness—a more ethereal beauty.</font> <i><abr>Mod.</abr></i> <font color="darkmagenta">An ink that will retain its fluidity; a permanent black. Is it a red wheat? What kind of a wine is this? To walk out in a pouring rain. There was a something—of that we may be sure. Oh, a mere nothing.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">b.</font></b> Also before proper names, used connotatively, with reference to the qualities of the individual; or figuratively as the type of a class.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1596</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i><abr>Merch.</abr> V.</i> iv. i. 223 <font color="darkmagenta">A Daniel come to iudgement, yea a Daniel!</font> <b>1665–9</b> Boyle <i>Occ. <abr>Refl.</abr></i> iv. xii. 245 (1675) <font color="darkmagenta">Our own History affords us a Henry the Fifth.</font> <b>1683</b> D. A. <i>Art of Converse</i> 53 <font color="darkmagenta">Cannot ye praise a philosopher unless ye say he is an Aristotle.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1830</b> <i>A Fable</i> (in <i>4th Irish Schbk.</i> 50) <font color="darkmagenta">He whom his party deems a hero, His foes a Judas or a Nero.</font> <b>1855</b> Tennyson <i>Maud</i> i. iv. 46 <font color="darkmagenta">Shall I weep if a Poland fall? shall I shriek if a Hungary fail?</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">c.</font></b> <i>A</i> follows the <abr>adj.</abr> in <i>many a</i>, <i>such a</i>, <i>what a!</i> and the <abr>obs.</abr> or <abr>dial.</abr> <i>each a</i>, <i>which a</i>; it follows any <abr>adj.</abr> preceded by <i>how</i>, <i>so</i>, <i>as</i>, <i>too</i>, as <i>how large a sum</i>; and in earlier <abr>Eng.</abr> the genit. phrases <i>what manner</i>, <i>no manner</i>, <i>whatkins</i>, <i>nakins</i>, <i>what sort</i>, etc., as <i>what manner a man</i> <abr>=</abr> cujusmodi homo? (See these words.)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>In none of these was the <i>a</i> found in Old English.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><i>Many a</i> is not to be confused with the approximative <i>a many</i> (see 2). <i>Such a</i> was earlier (2–3) <i>a such. Each a</i> and <i>which a</i> survive in the north, as <i>ilk a</i>, <i>whilk</i> <i>a.</i> <i>What manner a</i>, and its likes soon became corrupted to <i>what manner of</i>. See <kref>a</kref> <abr>prep.</abr><sup>2</sup> <abr>=</abr> of.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1593</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>3 <abr>Hen.</abr> VI</i>, v. iv. 12 <font color="darkmagenta">Ah, what a shame! ah, what a fault were this!</font> <b>1611</b> ― <i>Wint. T.</i> v. iii. 140 <font color="darkmagenta">And haue (in vaine) said many A prayer vpon her graue.</font> <b>1611</b> Bible <i>Ruth</i> iv. 1 <font color="darkmagenta">Ho, such a one! [<i>Later reprints</i>, such <i>an</i> one.]</font> ― <i>James</i> iii. 5 <font color="darkmagenta">Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth [<b>1881</b> <i>Revised</i> Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire.]</font> <i><abr>Mod.</abr></i> <font color="darkmagenta">Too high a price for so small an advantage. As fine a child as you will see.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">d.</font></b> With nouns of multitude, after which the <abr>gen.</abr> sign, or <abr>prep.</abr> <i>of</i>, has been omitted, <i>a</i> comes apparently before <abr>pl.</abr> nouns. Compare <i>a score of men</i>, <i>a dozen</i> (<i>of</i>) <i>men</i>, <i>hundreds of men</i>, <i>a hundred men</i>, <i>a thousand miles</i>; and the <abr>obs.</abr> <i>a certain of men</i> or <i>a certain men</i>, now <i>certain men</i>. (See under these words.)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1225</b> <i>Sawles Warde</i> 251 <font color="darkmagenta">Þah ich hefde a þusent tungen of stele.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. lxxx. 101 <font color="darkmagenta">A certayne of varlettes and boyes, who ran away.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> xiv. 13 <font color="darkmagenta">A certayne noble knightis..she kept.</font> <b>1600</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>A.Y.L.</i> i. i. 2 <font color="darkmagenta">It was upon this fashion bequeathed me by will, but poore a thousand crownes.</font> <b>1653</b> Holcroft <i>Procopius</i> i. 32 <font color="darkmagenta">Belisarius commanded Bessas with a 1000. selected men to charge them.</font> <b>1860</b> Tyndall <i>Glaciers</i> ii. §11. 290 <font color="darkmagenta">He had to retreat more than a dozen times.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">2.</font></b> <i>A</i> with numeral adjectives removes their definiteness, or expresses an approximate estimate: <i>some</i>, <i>a matter of</i>, <i>about</i>; as <i>a sixty fathom</i>, <i>a six years</i>, <i>a two hundred spears</i>; so also <i>a many men</i>, <i>a few retainers</i>, the latter already in <abr>OE.</abr> <i>áne feawa</i> (<i>áne</i> plural <abr>=</abr> some). An exceedingly common use of <i>a</i> in 14–16th c. Now <abr>obs.</abr> except in <i>a few</i>, <i>a great many</i>, <i>a good many</i> (<i>a many</i>, <i>a good few</i>, <i>a small few</i>, dialectal). See also under these words.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1000</b> <i><abr>Gosp.</abr> Nicod.</i> (1698) 5 <font color="darkmagenta">Ane feawa worda.</font> <b>1297</b> R. <abr>Glouc.</abr> 18 <font color="darkmagenta">Þe kyng with a fewe men hymself flew.</font> <b>1366</b> Mandeville 57 <font color="darkmagenta">That See is wel a 6 myle of largenesse in bredth.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1386</b> Chaucer <i>Sqr.'s T.</i> 275 <font color="darkmagenta">And up they risen, a ten other a twelve.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. xxxvii. 50 <font color="darkmagenta">A ii hundred speres.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> xxxviii. 51, <font color="darkmagenta">A xx. M. Almaynes.</font> <b>1551</b> Turner <i>Herbal</i> ii. 7 <font color="darkmagenta">Stepe them a fiue or sixe dayes in vineger.</font> <b>1595</b> Drake <i>Voyage</i> (<abr>Hakl.</abr> <abr>Soc.</abr>) 5 <font color="darkmagenta">He had a three hundred men more in his squadron.</font> <b>1600</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>A.Y.L.</i> i. i. 121 <font color="darkmagenta">And a many merry men with him.</font> <b>1611</b> Bible <i>Luke</i> ix. 28 <font color="darkmagenta">An eight days after these sayings.</font> <b>1684</b> Bunyan <i>Pilg. Prog.</i> 11 <i><abr>Introd.</abr></i> <font color="darkmagenta">Have also overcome a many evils.</font> <b>1833</b> Tennyson <i>Miller's <abr>Dau.</abr></i> 221 <font color="darkmagenta">They have not shed a many tears.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1860</b> H. Bonar <i>Hymn</i> <font color="darkmagenta">A few more struggles here, A few more partings o'er, A few more toils, a few more tears, And we shall weep no more.</font> <i><abr>Mod.</abr></i> <font color="darkmagenta">A great many acquaintances, a good many well-wishers, a few tried friends.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">3.</font></b> In a more definite sense: One, a certain, a particular; the same. Now only used in a few phrases like <i>once on a day</i>; <i>two at a time</i>; <i>two</i>, <i>three</i>, <i>all of a sort</i>, <i>a size</i>, <i>a price</i>, <i>an age</i>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1220</b> <i><abr>St.</abr> Katherine</i> (Abb. <abr>Cl.</abr>) 1 <font color="darkmagenta">Constantin & Maxence weren on a time..hehest in Rome.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. cx. 132 <font color="darkmagenta">In his dayes, ther was at a tyme, a great tournayeng before Cambray.</font> <b>1551</b> Robinson <i>More's Utopia</i> 45 <font color="darkmagenta">The killing of a man or the takyng of his money{ddd}were both a matter.</font> <b>1553–87</b> Foxe <i>A. & M.</i> 695/1 (1596) <font color="darkmagenta">Whether the christians yeeld to them, or yeeld not, all is a matter.</font> <b>1601</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>All's Well</i> i. iii. 244 <font color="darkmagenta">He and his Phisitions Are of a minde.</font> <b>1602</b> ― <i><abr>Ham.</abr></i> v. ii. 277 <font color="darkmagenta">These Foyles haue all a length.</font> <b>1694</b> <abr>Bp.</abr> Tenison in Evelyn <i><abr>Mem.</abr></i> (1857) III. 344 <font color="darkmagenta">Six little pieces of coin (all of a sort) found in an urn by a ploughman.</font> <b>1701</b> Swift <abr>Wks.</abr> (1755) II. i. 25 <font color="darkmagenta">The power of these princes..was much of a size with that of the kings in Sparta.</font> <i><abr>Mod.</abr> Provb.</i> <font color="darkmagenta">Fowls of a feather flock together.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">4.</font></b> ‘Denoting the proportion of one thing to another.’ J.; chiefly of rate or price: <i>in each</i>, <i>to</i> or <i>for each</i>; as a hundred <i>a</i> year, twenty pounds <i>a</i> man, thirty shillings <i>a</i> head, sixpence <i>an</i> ounce, a penny <i>a</i> line. This was originally the preposition <i>a</i>, <abr>OE.</abr> <i>an</i>, <i>on</i>, defining time, as in twice <i>a</i> day; whence by slight extension, a penny <i>a</i> day (<i>par</i> jour, <i>per</i> diem). Then, being formally identified with the <abr>indef.</abr> <abr>art.</abr>, <i>a</i>, <i>an</i> was extended analogically from time, to space, measure, weight, number, as a penny <i>a</i> mile, sixpence <i>a</i> pound (<i>la</i> livre), tenpence <i>a</i> hundred, so much <i>a</i> head. See <kref>a</kref> <abr>prep.</abr><sup>1</sup> 8 b.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1000</b> <i>Ags. <abr>Gosp.</abr></i> Luke xvii. 4 <font color="darkmagenta">Seofen siðum on dæᵹ.</font> <b><i>a</i> 1200</b> <i>Trin. <abr>Coll.</abr> <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 67 <font color="darkmagenta">Enes o dai.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> 109 <font color="darkmagenta">Anes á dái.</font> <b>1382</b> Wyclif <i><abr>Matt.</abr></i> xx. 2 <font color="darkmagenta">A peny for the day.</font> <b>1526</b> Tindale <i>ib.</i> <font color="darkmagenta">A peny a daye.</font> <b>1584</b> W. E[lderton] <i>A new Yorkshire song</i> [Yorke, Yorke, for my Monie, etc.] <i><abr>Yorksh.</abr> Anth.</i> (1851) 2 <font color="darkmagenta">And they shot for twentie poundes a bowe.</font> <b>1725</b> De Foe <i>Voyage round the World</i> (1840) 50 <font color="darkmagenta">His men to whom I gave four pieces of eight a man.</font> <b>1794</b> Southey <i>Botany Bay Ecl.</i> 3 <abr>Wks.</abr> II. 82 <font color="darkmagenta">To be popt at like pigeons for sixpence a day.</font> <b>1849</b> Macaulay <i><abr>Hist.</abr> <abr>Eng.</abr></i> I. 305 <font color="darkmagenta">Three hundred and eighty thousand pounds a year.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>III.</font></font></b> <b>a</b> also a', <abr>a.</abr><sup>3</sup> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(<font color="darkslategray">ɔː</font>)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[from <kref>all</kref>; <i>l</i> lost as in <i>alms</i>, <i>talk</i>. <i>A</i> occurs rarely and doubtfully in <abr>ME.</abr> <abr>north.</abr> or <abr>n.</abr> <abr>midl.</abr>; <i>a'</i> is the current spelling in modern literary Scotch.]</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>=</abr> <kref>all</kref>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1280</b> <i>Havelok</i> 610 <font color="darkmagenta">He sal hauen in his hand A denemark and england.</font> <b>1795</b> Burns III. 234 <font color="darkmagenta">For a' that, an' a' that, His ribbond, star, an' a' that, The man o' independent mind He looks an' laughs at a' that.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>IV.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, <abr>pron.</abr></b> <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> or <i><abr>dial.</abr></i> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[for <i>ha</i> <abr>=</abr> he, heo, hi, <i>he</i>, <i>she</i>, (<i>it</i>), <i>they</i>, when stressless; chiefly in southern and western writers. <i>A</i> for <i>he</i> (<i>ha</i> in the <i>Ayenbit</i>) is common from 3 to 5; in the dramatists of 6, 7, it is frequent in representations of familiar speech. <i>A</i> for <i>ha</i>, <i>heo</i>, <abr>=</abr> <i>she</i>, <i>they</i>, is rarer and somewhat doubtful in Layamon, but common in Trevisa; not found after 1450. Owing to the persistence of grammatical gender in the south, Trevisa also uses <i>a</i> <abr>=</abr> <i>he</i> of inanimate objects, and so apparently <abr>=</abr> <i>it</i>, which takes its place when rationality and sex are substituted for gender in the concord of the pronouns. The <abr>s.w.</abr> dialects still apply <i>he</i> to inanimate objects. See further under <kref>he</kref>.]</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">1.</font></b> He.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1250</b> Layamon (<i>later text</i>) I. 59 <font color="darkmagenta">Þat a lond a verde sechinge ware he mihte wonie [<b>1205</b> he ferde sechinde].</font> <b><i>c</i> 1315</b> Shoreham <i>Poems</i> 3 <font color="darkmagenta">Ac a deythe and he not [<abr>i.e.</abr> wots not] wanne.</font> <b>1387</b> Trevisa <i>Higden</i> (<i><abr>Norm.</abr> <abr>Inv.</abr></i> in Morris <i><abr>Specim.</abr></i> 341) <font color="darkmagenta">Kyng Edward hadde byhote duc William þat a scholde be kyng after hym if he dyede wyþoute chyldern.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1440</b> <i>Arthur</i> 370 <font color="darkmagenta">He went ouer to þe hulle syde, And þere a fonde a wommane byde.</font> <b>1553</b> Sir T. Gresham (in Froude <i><abr>Hist.</abr> <abr>Eng.</abr></i> V. xxix. 472/2) <font color="darkmagenta">For that the retailer doth sell..a doth not only take away the living of the Merchant.</font> <b>1584</b> Peele <i>Arraign. Paris</i> ii. i. 22 <font color="darkmagenta">Tut, Mars hath horns to butt withal, although no bull 'a shows, 'A never needs to mask in nets, 'a fears no jealous foes.</font> <b>1604</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i><abr>Ham.</abr></i> iii. iii. 74 <font color="darkmagenta">Now might I doe it, but now a is a praying, And now Ile doo't, and so a goes to heauen.</font> <b>1610</b> <i>Histriomastix</i> i. 157 <font color="darkmagenta">A speaks to you players: I am the <abr>poet.</abr></font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">2.</font></b> She.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1205</b> Layamon III. 127 <font color="darkmagenta">Ne beo ich nauere bliðe, þa wile a [the queen] beoð aliue.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1220</b> <i><abr>St.</abr> Katherine</i> (Abb. <abr>Cl.</abr>) 136 <font color="darkmagenta">þus hwil a wiste hire & þohte ai to witen hire meiden in meidenhad.</font> <b>1387</b> Trevisa <i><abr>MS.</abr> Cott. Vesp.</i> D. vii. 29 b, <font color="darkmagenta">He ran home to uore & prayede hys wyf þat hue wolde helpe for to saue hym,..bote a dude þe contrary.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">3.</font></b> It (for he).</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1387</b> Trevisa (in Morris <i><abr>Specim.</abr></i> 334) <font color="darkmagenta">Yn þis ylond groweþ a ston þat hatte gagates; ȝef me axeþ hys feyrnesse—a ys blak as gemmes buþ..a brenneþ yn water & quencheþ in oyle..ȝif a ys yfroted & yhat, a holdeþ what hym neyȝheþ; ȝef me axeþ hys goodnes, hyt heeleþ þe dropesy & hyt be ydrongke, etc.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1500</b> <i>Spirit. Rem.</i> (in <i>Nugæ Poeticæ</i> 67) <font color="darkmagenta">Cordys contrycio ys the too [<abr>=</abr> second] A wasshyth the woundes as doth a welle.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">4.</font></b> They.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1205</b> Layamon I. 149 <font color="darkmagenta">Ouer se a icomen; hauene sone a nomen [<b>1250</b> Ouer see hii comen, and hauene hi nomen].</font> <b>1387</b> Trevisa <i>Higden</i> (<i><abr>Descr.</abr> <abr>Brit.</abr></i> in Morris <i><abr>Specim.</abr></i> 340) <font color="darkmagenta">Þe kinges of Engelond woneþ alwey fer fram þat contray, for a buþ more yturnd to þe souþ contray; & ȝef a goþ to þe norþ contray, a goþ wiþ gret help & strengthe.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>¶</abr> <i>A</i> still retains all these meanings, and especially that of <i>he</i>, in southern and western dialects, where it appears as (<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>, <font color="darkslategray">ə(r)</font>). See Elworthy <i><abr>Gramm.</abr> of West Somerset <abr>Dial.</abr></i> 33, and Halliwell.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>In <abr>mod.</abr> <abr>north.</abr> dialects <i>a</i>, also <i>aa</i>, <i>ah</i>, <i>aw</i> (<font color="darkslategray">ɑː</font>, <font color="darkslategray">ɔː</font>) <abr>=</abr> I, being the first half of the diphthong (<font color="darkslategray">aɪ</font>, <font color="darkslategray">ɔɪ</font>).</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1853</b> Akerman <i>Wiltshire Tales</i> 169 <font color="darkmagenta">One night a was coming whoame vrom market, and vell off's hos into the rood, a was zo drunk.</font> <b>1864</b> Tennyson <i>North. Farmer</i> <font color="darkmagenta">But Parson a comes an' a goos, an' a says it eäsy an' freeä.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> <font color="darkmagenta">Doctors, they knaws nowt, for a says what's nawways true: Naw soort o' koind o' use to saäy the things that a do.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1864</b> T. Clarke <i>Jonny Shippard</i> (<abr>Westm.</abr> <abr>dial.</abr>) <font color="darkmagenta">Let ma git theear, an a's mebbie preeave a bit aaldther ner tha tak ma ta be.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>V.</font></font></b> <b>a, <abr>v.</abr></b> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>For <i>ha</i>, <i>ha'</i>, a worn-down form of <kref>have</kref> (<abr>cf.</abr> French <i>a</i> from <i>habet</i>) when unaccented or obscure in compound verbal forms, or where the independent meaning is sunk in a phrase, as <i>might a been</i>, <i>would a said</i>, <i>should a thought</i>, <i>a done!</i> <abr>=</abr> have done, <i>a mind!</i> <abr>=</abr> have a mind. Exceedingly frequent in 13–17th c.; in later times chiefly in representations of colloquial or familiar speech, in which it is still often said, though infrequently written, except in specimens of local dialects, where also, under literary influence, it is generally spelt <i>ha</i>, <i>ha'</i>, although no <i>h</i> is pronounced.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1350</b> <i><abr>Will.</abr> Palerne</i> 1177 <font color="darkmagenta">A mynde on me lord, for þi moder love help me.</font> <b>1366</b> Mandeville viii. 86 <font color="darkmagenta">The Iewes wolde a stoned him.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1400</b> <i><abr>Apol.</abr> for Lollards</i>, <font color="darkmagenta">I knowlech to a felid & seid þus.</font> <b>1468</b> <i>Cov. <abr>Myst.</abr></i> 38 (1841) <font color="darkmagenta">Ha don; and answere me as tyght.</font> <b>1477</b> Earl Rivers <i>Dictes</i> (Caxton) 13, <font color="darkmagenta">& might a made you as euil as he.</font> <b>1543</b> <i>Supp. to Hardyng</i> 105 <font color="darkmagenta">Richard might..a saved hymself, if he would a fled awaie.</font> <b>1556</b> <i><abr>Chron.</abr> Grey Friars</i> 28 <font color="darkmagenta">The byshoppe shulde a come agayne to Powlles, & a preched agayne.</font> <b>1684</b> Bunyan <i>Pilg.</i> ii. 84, <font color="darkmagenta">I might a had Husbands afore now, tho' I spake not of it.</font> <b>1864</b> Tennyson <i>North. Farmer</i>, <font color="darkmagenta">I done my duty by un, as I 'a done by the lond.</font> <b>1864</b> Mrs. Lloyd <i>Ladies of Polcarrow</i> 149 <font color="darkmagenta">We would a-had ‘hurrahs’ and a tar-barrel, Miss Loveday, ma'am.</font> <b>1866</b> Mayne Reid <i>Headless Horseman</i> lxvii. 334 <font color="darkmagenta">If 't hedn't a been for the savin' o' her, I'd a let 'em come on down the gully.</font> <b>1952</b> E. Wilson <i>Tuesday & Wednesday</i> i, in <i>Equations of Love</i> 11 <font color="darkmagenta">If I'd a known there was a luncheon party on I'd a stayed home.</font> <b>1968</b> E. Gaines in A. Chapman <i>New Black Voices</i> (1972) 97 <font color="darkmagenta">If I wasn't hungry, I wouldn't 'a' ate it at all.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">b.</font></b> In <abr>mod.</abr> use, <abr>repr.</abr> <abr>colloq.</abr> or <abr>dial.</abr> <abr>pronunc.</abr> of <i>have</i> in <i>could</i> (<i>must</i>, <i>should</i>, etc.) <i>have</i>: see <kref>coulda</kref>, <kref>musta</kref>, <kref>shoulda</kref>, etc.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>VI.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, <abr>adv.</abr></b> <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Also <b>aa</b>, <b>o</b>, <b>oo</b>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[<abr>OE.</abr> <i>á</i>, <i>áwa</i>, cognate with <abr>ON.</abr> <i>ǽ</i>, <abr>OHG.</abr> <i>eo</i>, <i>io</i>, <abr>Goth.</abr> <i>aiw</i>, <abr>cf.</abr> <i>aiws</i> an age, L. <i>aevum</i>, <abr>Gr.</abr> αἰών and <abr>adv.</abr> αἰεί. This word became <abr>obs.</abr> in 13th c., being replaced by the cognate Norse word <i>aȝ</i>, <i>ai</i>, <i>ei</i>, <i>ay</i>, <i>aye</i>, still used. See <kref>aye</kref>, and <kref>o</kref>.]</font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Ever, aye, always.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>a</i> 1000</b> <i>Beowulf</i> 915 <font color="darkmagenta">Gæð á wyrd swá hió sceal.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> 1914 <font color="darkmagenta">Þæt þin [dóm] lyfað · áwa tó aldre.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 183 <font color="darkmagenta">Te engles .a. biholdeþ þé.</font> <b>1205</b> Layamon II. 54 <font color="darkmagenta">And a [<b>1250</b> euere] to ure liue · witen ure leoden.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1220</b> <i><abr>St.</abr> Kath.</i> 279 <font color="darkmagenta">þat ha schulen lasten a.</font> <b>1230</b> <i>Ancren Riwle</i> 36 <font color="darkmagenta">World a buten ende.</font> <b>1230</b> <i>Hali Meid.</i> 15 <font color="darkmagenta">Þer is a feht & mot beon aa nede.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>VII.</font></font></b> <b>a, <abr>prep.</abr><sup>1</sup></b> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Also <b>o</b>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[A worn-down proclitic form of <abr>OE.</abr> preposition <i>an</i>, <i>on</i>. In compounds and common phrases this became <i>a</i> even in <abr>OE.</abr>, as <i>ab{uacu}tan</i>, <i>a timan</i>. The separate <i>an</i> was labialized to <i>on</i>, which form also (in West Saxon) absorbed the <abr>prep.</abr> <i>in</i>, and so had the meanings <i>on</i>, <i>in</i>; <i>unto</i>, <i>into</i>, <i>to</i>. In 11th c., <i>on</i> began to be reduced before consonants to <i>o</i>, which from its tonelessness soon sank to <i>a</i> (ə</font>). Before a vowel <i>an</i> was occasionally used; when emphatic <i>on</i> remained. The separate <i>a</i> is now rarely used, being replaced by the full <i>on</i>, <i>in</i>, or the various prepositions which represent them in modern idiom; except in a few verbal constructions, as <i>to go a begging</i>, <i>to set a going</i>; and in temporal distributive phrases, as <i>twice a day</i>, <i>once a year</i>, where it has been confused with the ‘indefinite article.’ See <kref>a</kref> a.<sup>2</sup> 4. But the preposition <i>a</i> really remains in a large number of combinations, where present spelling treats it as a prefix to the governed word, and the whole as a compound adverb, as <i>abed</i>, <i>afoot</i>, <i>aback</i>, <i>around</i>, <i>atop</i>, <i>afloat</i>, <i>asleep</i>, <i>alive</i>. As these combinations are now viewed as individual words, they will be found in their alphabetical places. The separate uses of <i>a</i>, treated here, are very numerous, but all included in those of <abr>OE.</abr> <i>on</i>.]</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">1.</font></b> Superposition: on; as <i>a the ground</i>, <i>a water and a land</i>, <i>a the book</i>, <i>a the rood</i>, <i>a bed</i>, <i>a bench</i>, <i>a shipboard</i>, <i>a wheels</i>, <i>a foot</i>, <i>a horseback</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> except in a few combinations, <i>abed</i>, <i>aboard</i>, <i>ashore</i>, <i>afield</i>, <i>afoot</i>, etc.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>a</i> 1200</b> <i>Moral Ode</i> in <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 173 <font color="darkmagenta">Wise men..a boken hit writen, þer [me] mei hit reden.</font> <b>1205</b> Layamon III. 7 <font color="darkmagenta">Þa folc..þat þer eoden a uoten [<b>1250</b> afote].</font> <b>1230</b> <i>Ancren Riwle</i> 430 <font color="darkmagenta">Ase ofte ase ȝe readeð out [<abr>=</abr> aught] o þisse boc.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1420</b> Lydgate <i>Stor. Thebes</i> 1561 (Skeat) <font color="darkmagenta">But he, allas! was mad light a foote.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. xvii. 18 <font color="darkmagenta">They are all a horsbacke.</font> <b>1599</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i><abr>Hen.</abr> V</i>, iv. iii. 42 <font color="darkmagenta">He..will stand a tip-toe.</font> <b>1611</b> Chapman <i>May-Day</i> (<i>Plays</i> 1873) II. 328 <font color="darkmagenta">Let her meditate a my late motion.</font> <b>1616</b> Purchas <i>Pilg., Desc. <abr>Ind.</abr></i> (1864) 157 <font color="darkmagenta">He almost first starued a ship⁓boord.</font> <b>1645</b> Howell <i><abr>Engl.</abr> Tears</i> 173/1 <font color="darkmagenta">All my neighbour Countreys were a fire.</font> <b>1861</b> <i>All Y. Round</i> V. 13 <font color="darkmagenta">And made him trot, barefooted, on before Himself, who rode a horse⁓back.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">2.</font></b> Motion: on, upon, on to; as <i>a the ground</i>, <i>a the folk</i>, <i>a the stead</i>, <i>a field</i>, <i>a bed</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> <abr>exc.</abr> as in <abr>prec.</abr> as <i>go a-shore</i>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1205</b> Layamon I. 97 <font color="darkmagenta">Moni eotend ic leide dead a þene grund.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1305</b> <i>E.E.P., <abr>St.</abr> Katherine</i> 92 <font color="darkmagenta">[Thou] þus fole maistres of clergie: bringest and settest a benche.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. cxlvii. 176 <font color="darkmagenta">The quene was brought a bedde of a fayre lady named Margarete.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">3.</font></b> Juxtaposition: on, at; chiefly in the phrases <i>a right</i> (or <i>left) half</i>, <i>a this</i> (or <i>that) side</i>, <i>a God's half</i> <abr>=</abr> on God's side or behalf; and <i>a-to-side</i> <abr>=</abr> a t' o side, on (the) one side, aside. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> <abr>exc.</abr> in comb.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 141 <font color="darkmagenta">And þer stod a richt halue and a leeft{revsc} alse an castel wal.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1380</b> <i>Sir Ferumbras</i> 1680 <font color="darkmagenta">A þes half Mantrible þe grete Citee{revsc} ys þe brigge y-set.</font> <b>1449</b> Pecock <i>Repressor</i> 336 <font color="darkmagenta">In the daies of Princis A this side the Emperour Constantyn.</font> <b>1477</b> Earl Rivers <i>Dictes</i> (Caxton) 1 <font color="darkmagenta">To sette a parte alle ingratitude.</font> <b>1483</b> Caxton <i>Geoffroi de la Tour</i> E. v, <font color="darkmagenta">And bothe..wente and leyd them self abothe his sydes.</font> <b>1600</b> Holland <i>Livy</i> xxxvii. xi. 950 <font color="darkmagenta">Those vessels which lay atone side upon the land.</font> <b>1684</b> Bunyan <i>Pilg.</i> ii. 67 <font color="darkmagenta">I thought he gave you something, because he called you a to-side.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>†</abr> <b><font color="indigo">4.</font></b> Position or situation: in; as <i>a thy hand</i>, <i>a the world</i>, <i>a the folk</i>, <i>a the shroud</i>, <i>a water</i>, <i>a blood</i>, <i>a Rome</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1000</b> <i>Blickl. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 89 <font color="darkmagenta">On bendum & o wope.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1066</b> <i><abr>O.E.</abr> <abr>Chron.</abr></i> (Cott. <abr>MS.</abr>) an. 1011 <font color="darkmagenta">Man nolde him átiman gafol beodon.</font> <b>1205</b> Layamon I. 49 <font color="darkmagenta">A þon heðene lawen [<b>1250</b> In þan heþene lawe].</font> <b><i>a</i> 1300</b> <i>Judas</i>, in <i>Reliq. <abr>Ant.</abr></i> I. 144 <font color="darkmagenta">Al it lavede a blode.</font> <b>1401</b> <i><abr>Pol.</abr> Poems</i> II. 43 <font color="darkmagenta">Liȝtly a lewid man maye leyen hem a water.</font> <b>1525</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> II. ccxxxii. 721 <font color="darkmagenta">So the bysshoppe returned and came into Almaygne, and founde the kyng a Conualence.</font> <b>1608</b> Tourneur <i>Reveng. Tragœdie</i> v. i. 129 <font color="darkmagenta">That's enow a' conscience!</font> <b>1660</b> Harrington <i><abr>Prerog.</abr> of <abr>Pop.</abr> Sov.</i> (1700) ii. v. 362 <font color="darkmagenta">Which is enough, a conscience!</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">5.</font></b> General direction or position: in the direction of, towards; as, <i>a back</i>, <i>a fore</i>, <i>a far</i>, <i>a head</i>, <i>a side</i>. Still used in comb. <i>aback</i>, etc.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1420</b> Lydgate <i>Stor. Thebes</i> 1170 (Skeat <i><abr>Spec.</abr> <abr>Eng.</abr> <abr>Lit.</abr></i>) <font color="darkmagenta">And the remnaunt amased drogh a bak.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">6.</font></b> Partition: in, into; as <i>a two</i>, <i>a three</i>, <i>a twelve</i>, <i>a pieces</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> except in comb. <i>asunder</i>, <i>apart</i>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 141 <font color="darkmagenta">And þa fouwer weren ideled a twelue.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1280</b> <i>E.E.P., Fall & Passion</i> 14 <font color="darkmagenta">Hir þoȝt hir hert wol a two.</font> <b>1398</b> Trevisa <i>Barth. De <abr>Pr.</abr> R.</i> iii. xii. <font color="darkmagenta">The vertu sensible þat meueþ is departid a thre [<abr>ed.</abr> <b>1535</b> on thre, <b>1582</b> in three].</font> <b>1509</b> Fisher <i><abr>Wks.</abr></i> (1876) 55 <font color="darkmagenta">An other sawed a two.</font> <b>1535</b> Coverdale <i>Acts</i> i. 18, <font color="darkmagenta">& brast a sunder in the myddes.</font> <b>1613</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i><abr>Hen.</abr> VIII</i>, v. iv. 80 <font color="darkmagenta">Being torne a pieces.</font> <b>1623</b> Bingham <i><abr>Hist.</abr> Xenophon</i> 75 <font color="darkmagenta">Their legs and sides crushed, and broken a peeces.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>†</abr> <b><font color="indigo">7.</font></b> Position in a series: at, in; as <i>a first</i>, <i>a last</i>, <i>a the(n) end</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1205</b> Layamon III. 106 <font color="darkmagenta">{thbar} he com a þan ende.</font> <b>1230</b> <i>Ancr. R.</i> 46 <font color="darkmagenta">A last schal siggen, hwo se con: <i>Oremus</i>.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">8.</font></b> Time: in, on, by; as <i>a day</i>, <i>a night</i>, <i>an eve</i>, <i>a morrow</i>, <i>a Monday</i>, <i>a doom's day</i>. Occ. prefixed to <abr>OE.</abr> adverbial genitives <i>dæȝes</i> and <i>nihtes</i>, giving <i>a nights</i>, <i>now-a-days</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> <abr>exc.</abr> in a few archaic phrases.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1000</b> <i>Ags. Gospels</i> Mark iv. 27, <font color="darkmagenta">& sawe & arise daeᵹes & nihtes [<i>Lindisf</i>. & slepeð & arisað on næht and on daeᵹ. <i>Hatton</i>, & sawe & arise daiᵹes & nihtes].</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> Luke xxi. 37 <font color="darkmagenta">He was on dæᵹ on þam temple lærende . & on niht he eode & wunode on þam munte.</font> <b>1205</b> Layamon II. 401 <font color="darkmagenta">ȝif mon mihte mid crafte · a dæi oðer a nihte [<b>1250</b> Bi daiȝe oþer bi nihte].</font> <b><i>a</i> 1200</b> <i>Cotton <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 239 <font color="darkmagenta">A domes deie.</font> <b>1362</b> Langland <i>P. Pl.</i> A i. 99 <font color="darkmagenta">And not to faste a Friday.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1430</b> <i>Syr Generides</i> 1797 <font color="darkmagenta">Sith yesterday a eve, This sekenes first did him greve.</font> <b>1525</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> II. xxvii. 77 <font color="darkmagenta">He had not thanne this vsage to ryn a nyghtes, as he doeth nowe.</font> <b>1575</b> Laneham <i>Letter</i> 20 (1871) <font color="darkmagenta">A Sunday, opportunely, the weather brake vp again.</font> <b>1601</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>Jul. C.</i> i. ii. 193 <font color="darkmagenta">Let me haue men about me, that are fat, Sleekeheaded men, and such as sleepe a-nights.</font> <b>1669</b> Digby <i>Closet Opened</i> (1677) 134 <font color="darkmagenta">Monsieur de Bourdeaux used to take a mornings a broth thus made.</font> <b>1688</b> Bunyan <i>Holy War</i> 336 <font color="darkmagenta">The bold villain{ddd}lurks in the Diabolonian dens a days and haunts like a ghost honest men's houses a nights.</font> <b>1721</b> Swift <i><abr>Epist.</abr> <abr>Corr.</abr></i> II. 557 <font color="darkmagenta">Why did you not set out a Monday, like a true country parson?</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">b.</font></b> Especially, with adverbs of repetition: <i>once</i>, <i>twice</i>, <i>many times</i>, <i>oft a day</i> (<abr>OE.</abr> <i>on dæȝe</i>), <i>twice a week</i>, <i>thrice a year</i>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>In this construction <i>a</i> is now generally explained as the ‘indefinite article’; and it has, through such phrases as <i>a penny a day</i>, <i>fourteen shillings a week</i>, led to the use of <i>a</i> to express <i>rate</i>, or <i>proportion</i>, as in <i>a penny a mile</i>, <i>tenpence a pound</i>. <abr>Comp.</abr> French <i>deux francs par jour</i>, and <i>deux francs la livre</i>. See <kref>a</kref> a.<sup>2</sup> 4.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1000</b> <i>Ags. Gospels</i> Luke xx. 4 <font color="darkmagenta">Seofan siþun on dæᵹ [<i>Lindisf</i>. Seofa siðe on dæᵹe].</font> <b><i>c</i> 1150</b> <i>Hatton <abr>Gosp.</abr>, ibid.</i> <font color="darkmagenta">Seofen syðan on daiᵹ.</font> <b><i>a</i> 1200</b> <i>Trin. <abr>Coll.</abr> <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 67 <font color="darkmagenta">Ete nu leinte mete, and enes o day.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> 109 <font color="darkmagenta">Hie arist anes á dái.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1305</b> <i><abr>St.</abr> Edmund</i> 72 <font color="darkmagenta">And werede here þrie a wyke, oþer tueye atte leste.</font> <b>1382</b> Wyclif <i><abr>Exod.</abr></i> xxiii. 17 <font color="darkmagenta">Thries a ȝeer [<b>1388</b> in the ȝeer] shal apere al thi maal child before the Lord thi God.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1386</b> Chaucer <i>Knt.'s T.</i> 498 <font color="darkmagenta">Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde alas!</font> <b>1611</b> Bible <i><abr>Ps.</abr></i> cxix. 164 <font color="darkmagenta">Seuen times a day doe I praise thee.</font> <b>1878</b> Huxley <i><abr>Physiogr.</abr></i> 174 <font color="darkmagenta">It moves at the rate of between four and five miles an hour.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>†</abr> <b><font color="indigo">9.</font></b> Manner: in, with, etc.; as <i>a this wise</i>, <i>a some wise</i>, <i>a gram</i> <abr>=</abr> in wrath, <i>a scorn</i>, <i>a blisse</i>; <i>a French</i>, <i>a Latin</i>; <i>a great speed</i>, <i>a purpose</i> <abr>=</abr> on purpose, <i>a colour</i> <abr>=</abr> under colour, in the pretence, <i>a that'n</i> <abr>=</abr> in that way. <abr>Cf.</abr> <abr>OE.</abr> <i>on þissre wisan</i>, <i>on Englisc</i>, <abr>mod.</abr> <i>on this wise</i>, <i>in English</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1230</b> <i>Ancren Riwle</i> 100 <font color="darkmagenta">þis is a cruel word, & a grim word mid alle, {thbar} vre Louerd seið ase a grome & a scorn.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1305</b> <i>E.E.P., <abr>St.</abr> Katherine</i> 92 <font color="darkmagenta">For ich wole bet þat ȝe hire ouercome: mid resouns a somme wise.</font> <b>1387</b> Trevisa <i>Higden Polychr.</i> (in Morris <i><abr>Specim.</abr></i> 338) <font color="darkmagenta">To construe here lessons & here þingis a Freynsch.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1400</b> <i><abr>Apol.</abr> for Lollards</i> 49 <font color="darkmagenta">A color of takyng of almis.</font> <b>1533</b> More <i><abr>Answ.</abr> to Poysoned Boke</i> (<abr>Wks.</abr> 1557) 1117/2 <font color="darkmagenta">Els may he neuer make himself so sure, and face it out a this fashion.</font> <b>1590</b> Marlowe <i>Jew of Malta</i> iv. iii. 312 <font color="darkmagenta">Stands here a purpose.</font> <b>1601</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>All's Well</i> ii. iii. 265 <font color="darkmagenta">Why dooest thou garter vp thy armes a this fashion?</font> <b>1695</b> Congreve <i>Love for Love</i> iii. vii. 218 (1866) <font color="darkmagenta">[A sailor says] An' you stand astern a that'n we two will never grapple together.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>†</abr> <b><font color="indigo">10.</font></b> Capacity: in any one's name; <abr>esp.</abr> <i>a God's name</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1300</b> <i>Life of Beket</i> 146 <font color="darkmagenta">And wende forth a Godes name: to the holi londe.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1386</b> Chaucer <i>Doctor's T.</i> 250 <font color="darkmagenta">Do with your child your wille, a goddes name!</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. cxix. 142 <font color="darkmagenta">Let them depart whyder they woll a goddes name.</font> <b><i>a</i> 1577</b> J. Northbrooke <i>Against Dicing</i> (1843) 152 <font color="darkmagenta">Daunce a God's name.</font> <b>1577</b> T. Vautrollier <i>Luther's <abr>Ep.</abr> to Galathians</i> 129 <font color="darkmagenta">Worke on a Gods blessing.</font> <b>1600</b> Holland <i>Livy</i> ix. iv. 315/2 <font color="darkmagenta">Go then, Consuls, a gods name, redeem the cittie.</font> <b>1702</b> Pope <i>Chaucer's Wife of Bath</i> 48 <font color="darkmagenta">Let such (a God's name) with fine wheat be fed.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">11.</font></b> State: in; as <i>a live</i>, <i>a sleep</i>, <i>a work</i>, <i>a jar</i>, <i>a thirst</i>, <i>a blaze</i>, <i>a fright</i>, <i>a float</i>, <i>a stare</i>. In these the word governed by <i>a</i> was originally a noun, <abr>e.g.</abr> <i>life</i>, <i>sleep</i>, <i>work</i>, <i>float</i> (‘on the Mediterranean flote,’ <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i><abr>Temp.</abr></i> i. ii. 234), but being often the verbal <abr>n.</abr> of state or act, it has been in modern times erroneously taken as a verb, and used as a model for forming such adverbial phrases from any verb, as <i>a-wash</i>, <i>a-blaze</i>, <i>a-bask</i>, <i>a-swim</i>, <i>a-flaunt</i>, <i>a-blow</i>, <i>a-dance</i>, <i>a-run</i>, <i>a-stare</i>, <i>a-gaze</i>, <i>a-howl</i>, <i>a-tremble</i>, <i>a-shake</i>, <i>a-jump</i>. These are purely modern and analogical.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1205</b> Layamon I. 59 <font color="darkmagenta">Wel wes him on liue. [<b>1250</b> Wel was him aliue.]</font> <b><i>c</i> 1225</b> <i>Sawles Warde</i> 249 <font color="darkmagenta">Lest sum for-truste him, ant feole o slepe.</font> <b>1533</b> More <i><abr>Answ.</abr> to Poysoned Boke</i> <abr>Wks.</abr> (1557) 1119/1 <font color="darkmagenta">Al the while that al those holy folke were a worke therwith.</font> <b>1556</b> <i><abr>Chron.</abr> Grey Friars</i> 47 <font color="darkmagenta">And [they] sette it alle a fyer, and went their wayes agayne.</font> <b>1611</b> <abr>Cotgr.</abr> <font color="darkmagenta"><i>Estre au dessus du vent</i>, To flourish, live in prosperitie, be al a flaunt, or a hoight.</font> <b>1611</b> Bible <i>2 <abr>Chron.</abr></i> ii. 18 <font color="darkmagenta">Three thousand and sixe hundred ouerseers to set the people a worke.</font> <b>1616</b> R. C. <i>Times' Whistle</i> v. 1843 <font color="darkmagenta">One straight falles a sleep.</font> <b>1663</b> Spalding <i>Troubles in reign of <abr>Chas.</abr> I</i> (1829) 44 <font color="darkmagenta">The soldiers sleeping carelessly in the bottom of the ship upon heather, were all a-swim, through the water that came in at the holes and leaks of the ship.</font> <b>1868</b> <i>Morning Star</i> 18 June, <font color="darkmagenta">Rocks which are a-wash at low tide.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">12.</font></b> Process; with a verbal <abr>n.</abr> taken passively: in process of, in course of, undergoing. Varying with <i>in</i>: ‘forty and six years was this temple in building.’ <i><abr>arch.</abr></i> or <i><abr>dial.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(In modern language the <i>a</i> is omitted and the verbal <abr>n.</abr> treated as a participle, passive in sense; as <i>the house was a building</i>, <i>the house was building</i>. In still more modern speech a formal participle passive appears: <i>the house was being built</i>.)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1393</b> Langland <i>P. Pl.</i> C iv. 51 <font color="darkmagenta">We haue a wyndow a worchyng.</font> <b>1489</b> Caxton <i>Faytes of Armes</i> i. xiv. 37 <font color="darkmagenta">Suche fortyfycacyons are in dooyng.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. cxx. 143 <font color="darkmagenta">Ther they brake all [the bridge] to peaces that had been longe a makynge.</font> <b>1598</b> Stow <i>Survay of London</i> i. 3 (1603) <font color="darkmagenta">Whilst these things were a doing.</font> <b>1611</b> Bible <i>1 Peter</i> iii. 20 <font color="darkmagenta">In the dayes of Noah while the Arke was a preparing.</font> <b>1662</b> H. More <i><abr>Ant.</abr> ag. Atheism</i> (1712) iii. xiii. 130 <font color="darkmagenta">The shrieks of men while they are a murthering.</font> <b>1692</b> Bentley <i>B.L.</i> 211 <font color="darkmagenta">The state or condition of matter before the world was a-making, which is compendiously exprest by the word chaos.</font> <b>1727</b> Wodrow <i><abr>Corresp.</abr></i> (1843) III. 296 <font color="darkmagenta">Tomorrow, all day, papers will be a-reading.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">13.</font></b> Action; with a verbal <abr>n.</abr> taken actively. <b><font color="indigo">a.</font></b> with <i>be</i>: engaged in. <i><abr>arch.</abr></i> or <i><abr>dial.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(In literary <abr>Eng.</abr> the <i>a</i> is omitted, and the verbal <abr>n.</abr> treated as a participle agreeing with the subject, and governing its case, to <i>be fishing</i>, <i>fighting</i>, <i>making anything</i>. But most of the southern dialects, and the vulgar speech both in England and America, retain the earlier usage.)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. xviii. 20 <font color="darkmagenta">They had ben a fyghtyng with theyr ennemies.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1590</b> Horsey <i>Travels</i> (<abr>Hakl.</abr> <abr>Soc.</abr>) 163 <font color="darkmagenta">His enyme..that was a preparinge to invade his countrys.</font> <b>1683</b> <abr>tr.</abr> Erasmus <i>Moriae Encomium</i> 18 <font color="darkmagenta">She imitates me in being always a laughing.</font> <b>1684</b> Bunyan <i>Pilg.</i> ii. (1862) 209 <font color="darkmagenta">She is a taking of her last farewell of her Country.</font> <b>1716–18</b> Lady M. W. Montagu <i>Letters</i> I. xxvii. 88 <font color="darkmagenta">Orders{ddd}which may possibly be a month a-coming.</font> <b>1769</b> Robertson <i>Charles V</i>, III. viii. 65 <font color="darkmagenta">The tempest which had been so long a gathering was ready to break forth.</font> <b>1815</b> Leigh Hunt <i>Feast of the Poets</i> 11 <font color="darkmagenta">You'd have thought 'twas the Bishops or Judges a coming.</font> <b>1845</b> Disraeli <i>Sybil</i> 296 (Routl.) <font color="darkmagenta">‘A-dropping wages, and a-raising tommy like fun,’ said Master Waghorn.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">b.</font></b> with verb of motion: to, into; to <i>go a fishing</i>, <i>come a wooing</i>, <i>fall a laughing</i>, <i>crying</i>, <i>fighting</i>, to <i>set the bells a ringing</i>, to <i>send children a begging</i>. <i><abr>Arch.</abr></i> or <i><abr>dial.</abr></i> save in a few phrases, as <i>to go a begging</i> (mostly of offices); and with <i>set</i>, as to <i>set the clock a going</i>, <i>the bells a ringing</i>, <i>folk a thinking</i>, where also <i>a</i> is often omitted.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1526</b> Tindale <i>John</i> xxi. 3 <font color="darkmagenta">Simon Peter sayde vnto them: I goo a fysshynge.</font> <b>1551</b> Robinson <i>More's Utopia</i> 43 <font color="darkmagenta">Whither, I pray you, but a beggynge or elles a stealing.</font> <b>1621</b> Burton <i><abr>Anat.</abr> Mel.</i> (1651) iii. 4. i. 3. 667 <font color="darkmagenta">..he would burst out a laughing.</font> <b>1692</b> Bentley <i>B.L.</i> 61 <font color="darkmagenta">Watches must be wound up to set them a going.</font> <b>1715</b> Burnet <i><abr>Hist.</abr> own Time</i> II. 207 (1766) <font color="darkmagenta">As soon as he was taken he fell a crying.</font> <b>1788</b> <abr>Th.</abr> Jefferson <i>Writings</i> II. 373 (1859) <font color="darkmagenta">We were able to set the loan a going again.</font> <i><abr>Mod.</abr></i> <font color="darkmagenta">Such positions rarely go a begging.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>VIII.</font></font></b> <b>a, <abr>prep.</abr><sup>2</sup></b> <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><font color="gray">[worn down from <i>of</i>, <i>f</i> being dropped <abr>bef.</abr> a <abr>cons.</abr>, and the toneless <i>o</i> sunk into the neutral ə, which being the ordinary sound of toneless <i>a</i>, as in <i>a man</i>, <i>ămain</i>, <i>Americă</i>, was here also written <i>a.</i> It was once the ordinary representative of <i>of</i> in certain phrases, as <i>men a war</i>, <i>cloth a gold</i>, <i>inns a court</i>, <i>time a day</i>, <i>fustian a Napes</i>, <i>out a doors</i> (where apparently confused with <i>at</i>, <abr>cf.</abr> <i>in a doores</i>) and familiarly in many others. In <abr>mod.</abr> spelling, <i>of</i> when contracted is written <i>o'</i>, but the familiar pronunciation is still (ə</font>) as in <i>man o'</i>(<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>) <i>war</i>.]</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">1.</font></b> Of. Usu. <abr>repr.</abr> <abr>colloq.</abr>, popular, or <abr>dial.</abr> <abr>pronunc.</abr>, <abr>esp.</abr> in American and Black English. Freq. appended to the preceding word (sometimes with reduplication of final consonant), as <kref>cuppa</kref>, <kref>kinda</kref>, <kref>lotsa</kref>, <kref>lotta</kref>, etc.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>? 1500</b> <i>Chevy Chase</i> (<i><abr>MS.</abr> Ashmole</i> 48) 84 <font color="darkmagenta">He spendyd A spere a trusti tre.</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. xxxviii. 52 <font color="darkmagenta">The cyty was strong, and well furnysshed of men a warr.</font> <b>1532</b> More <i><abr>Conf.</abr> Dr. Barnes</i> viii. (<abr>Wks.</abr> 1557) 804/2, <font color="darkmagenta">Ye shall beare no part of that flesh foorth a dores.</font> <b>1593</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i><abr>Rich.</abr> II</i>, i. iii. 76 <font color="darkmagenta">The name of John a Gaunt.</font> <b>1599</b> ― <i>Much Ado</i> iii. iv. 19 <font color="darkmagenta">Cloth a gold and cut, and lac'd with siluer.</font> <b>1599</b> Chapman <i>An humerous dayes myrth</i> (Plays, 1873) I. 63 <font color="darkmagenta">Theeues, Puritanes, murderers, in adoores, I say.</font> <b>1631</b> F. Lenton <i>Leasures</i> char. 29 <font color="darkmagenta">A young innes a court gentleman.</font> <b>1673</b> J. Janeway <i>Heaven upon Earth</i> (1847) 286 <font color="darkmagenta">'Tis not time-a-day for you to be sleeping or playing.</font> <b>1800</b> M. Edgeworth <i>Castle Rackrent</i> 78 <font color="darkmagenta">‘Judy's out a luck,’ said I, striving to laugh—‘I'm out a luck,’ said he.</font> <b>1928</b> [see <kref>bullshit</kref> 1]. <b>1965</b> C. Colter in A. Chapman <i>New Black Voices</i> (1972) 72 <font color="darkmagenta">See that squad car?—up in fronta the drug store.</font> <b>1976</b> <i>CRC <abr>Jrnl.</abr></i> July 14/1 <font color="darkmagenta">All a we is one, all a we not the same.</font> <b>1981</b> <i>Westindian World</i> 31 July 4/1 <font color="darkmagenta">Who should I buck up last Saturday night but man about town and boss man a Root Magazine Godfrey Hope.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>†</abr> <b><font color="indigo">2.</font></b> Especially common in the phrase <b><i>a clock</i></b> <abr>=</abr> of the clock, o'clock. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1450</b> <i>Wills and <abr>Inv.</abr> Bury <abr>St.</abr> Edm.</i> 17 <font color="darkmagenta">At vii of the clokke.</font> <b>1480</b> <i>Plumpton <abr>Corr.</abr></i> 40 <font color="darkmagenta">Uppon Munday by viii a clocke.</font> <b>1593</b> T. Fale <i>Art of Dialling</i> A. 3. <font color="darkmagenta">The Meridian and twelve a clock line are all one.</font> <b>1598</b> B. Jonson <i>Ev. Man in Hum.</i> (1616) i. iv. 14 <font color="darkmagenta">It's sixe a clocke: I should ha' carried two turnes, by this.</font> <b>1665</b> Boyle <i>Occ. <abr>Refl.</abr></i> vi. xv. 254 (1675) <font color="darkmagenta">To know what a Clock it was.</font> <b>1713</b> Derham <i>Physico-Theol.</i> 18 <i>note</i>, <font color="darkmagenta">Sea-Breezes commonly rise in the Morning about Nine a Clock.</font> <b>1741</b> Amherst <i>Terræ Filius</i> I. 3 <font color="darkmagenta">Coming into college at ten or eleven a clock at night.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><abr>†</abr> <b><font color="indigo">3.</font></b> After <i>manner</i>, <i>kind</i>, <i>sort</i>, etc. <i>a</i>, <abr>orig.</abr> the ‘<abr>indef.</abr> article,’ was taken as <abr>=</abr> of. <abr>Orig.</abr> <i>what manner</i> was in the genitive relation, thus: what manner a man? <i>cujusmodi homo?</i> what manner men? <i>cujusmodi homines?</i> By being taken as <abr>=</abr> of, <i>a</i> was first extended to the plural, as ‘what manner a men?’ and then changed to <i>of</i>, as in the <abr>mod.</abr> ‘what manner of men?’ which no longer answers to <i>cujusmodi homines?</i> but to <i>qui modus hominum?</i> The dialects retain the original ‘kind a’ as <i>kinda</i>, <i>kinder</i>. <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> See further <abr>s.v.</abr> <kref>manner</kref> <abr>n.</abr><sup>1</sup> 9.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1388</b> Wyclif <i><abr>Judg.</abr></i> viii. 18 <font color="darkmagenta">What maner men weren thei [<b>1382</b> What weren the men] that ȝe killiden in Thabor [<b>1611</b> What maner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor?].</font> <b>1523</b> <abr>Ld.</abr> Berners <i>Froissart</i> I. lxxv. 96 <font color="darkmagenta">Ther abode alyue no maner a person.</font> <b>1583</b> Golding <i>Calvin on <abr>Deut.</abr></i> vi. 33. 17 a, <font color="darkmagenta">We know what maner a one that is.</font> <b>1592</b> R. Hyrde <abr>tr.</abr> <i>Vives' <abr>Instr.</abr> Christ. Woman</i> G iij, <font color="darkmagenta">What maner a ones they shoulde be, S. Peter, & S. Paule,..teach.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>IX.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, <abr>prep.</abr><sup>3</sup></b> <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>In <abr>phr.</abr> <b><i>a þe</i></b>, a later form of <abr>OE.</abr> <i>oððe</i> <abr>=</abr> <i>oð</i> until + <i>þe</i> that, whereby <i>a</i> came to represent <abr>OE.</abr> <i>oð</i> till.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 5 <font color="darkmagenta">Þus ha hine hereden a þe he rad in et þan est ȝete.</font> <i><abr>Ibid.</abr></i> 45 <font color="darkmagenta">Ic ham ȝeue reste{ddd}from non on saterdei a þa cume monedeis lihting.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>X.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, <abr>conj.</abr></b> <i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>A form apparently occurring occasionally before a consonant for <i>an</i> <abr>=</abr> and, if. In some cases, if not all, the correct <abr>MS.</abr> reading may be <i>ā</i>, compendium for <i>an</i>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">1.</font></b> <abr>=</abr> And.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1280</b> <i>Fall & Passion</i> in <i>E.E.P.</i> (1862) 13 <font color="darkmagenta">Seue daies a seue niȝt . vte of heuen hi aliȝt..an in to hellë wer iþrow.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1400</b> <i><abr>Apol.</abr> for Lollards</i> 56 <font color="darkmagenta">He þat lettiþ not silk ȝeuing, wen he is holden a may, is strenid by þe same gilt.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1450</b> <i>Morte Arth.</i> (<abr>Roxb.</abr> <abr>Cl.</abr>) 91 <font color="darkmagenta">Wendyth home a leue youre werryeng.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">2.</font></b> <abr>=</abr> <i>and</i>, <i>an'</i>, if.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1450</b> <i>Morte Arth.</i> (<abr>Roxb.</abr> <abr>Cl.</abr>) 91 <font color="darkmagenta">And yit a thow woldyst nyghe me nye, Thow shalt wele wete I am not slayn.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>XI.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, <abr>int.</abr></b> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><i><abr>Obs.</abr></i> or <i><abr>dial.</abr></i> form of <kref>O</kref> <abr>int.</abr> and <kref>ah</kref> <abr>int.</abr></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">1.</font></b> (In northern and early southern <abr>Eng.</abr>) O! (for which <i>ā! eh!</i> (<font color="darkslategray">ɛː</font>, <font color="darkslategray">eː</font>) is still the ordinary northern form) of invocation, surprise, admiration.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1175</b> <i>Lamb. <abr>Hom.</abr></i> 45 <font color="darkmagenta">A! hwi wepest þou, Paul?</font> <b><i>c</i> 1340</b> Hampole <i><abr>Pr.</abr> Tr.</i> 1 <font color="darkmagenta">A, a! that wondyrful name! A! that delittable name!</font> ― <i><abr>Pr.</abr> <abr>Consc.</abr></i> 481 <font color="darkmagenta">For when it es born it cryes swa: If it be man it says ‘a.a.’ And if þe child a woman be, When it es born it says ‘e.e.’</font> <b><i>c</i> 1460</b> Townley <i><abr>Myst.</abr></i> 109 <font color="darkmagenta">A, Gylle! what chere?</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">2.</font></b> (In later southern <abr>Eng.</abr>) Ah! of pain, grief, aversion.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1305</b> <i>E.E.P.</i> 58 <font color="darkmagenta">A beau frere quaþ þis oþer: strong is þi misdede.</font> <b>1340</b> <i>Ayenb.</i> 92 <font color="darkmagenta">A God hou hi byeþ foles and more þanne a best.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1386</b> Chaucer <i>Knt.'s T.</i> 220 <font color="darkmagenta">He bleynte and cryed, a! As that he stongen were vnto the herte.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1400</b> <i><abr>Apol.</abr> for Lollards</i> 30 <font color="darkmagenta">A ȝe vniust prestis, þorow ȝour bidding þe prest of God stintiþ þe office of blessing.</font> <b>1485</b> Caxton <i>Paris & Vienne</i> (1868) 28 <font color="darkmagenta">A Veray God! I am wel dyscomforted.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">3.</font></b> Prefixed to proper names as a war-cry, as <i>A Warwick!</i> Modern writers treat it as the ‘indefinite article’.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1450</b> <i>Merlin</i> (1866) ii. 287 <font color="darkmagenta">Than thei cried a Clarance with a lowde voyse.</font> <b>1808</b> Scott <i>Marm.</i> vi. xxvii. <font color="darkmagenta">The Border slogan rent the sky: A Home! a Gordon! was the cry.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b><font color="indigo">4.</font></b> Appended to lines ‘in burlesque poetry, to lengthen out a syllable, without adding to the sense.’ J. Not originally burlesque, but probably originating in the necessary retention of the <abr>ME.</abr> final <i>-e</i> where wanted for measure, the origin of which being forgotten, it was treated as an addition of <i>ă</i>. Thus <abr>ME.</abr> <i>sonne</i>—<i>yronne</i>, would be treated as <i>sun a!</i>—<i>run a!</i></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>Hence <abr>prob.</abr> the modern ballad and lyrical <i>O!</i> (which is not burlesque) as in ‘My Nannie, O.’</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b>1567</b> <i>Triall of Treasure</i> (1850) 33 <font color="darkmagenta">Wherein I doe delight, a;{ddd}To liue still in such plighte, a.</font> <b>1611</b> <abr>Shakes.</abr> <i>Wint. T.</i> iv. iii. 133 <font color="darkmagenta">And merrily hent the Stile-a..Your sad tyres in a Mile-a.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <b><font color="darkmagenta">▪ <font>XII.</font></font></b> <b><abr>†</abr> a, a-, particle</b> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>(<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>)</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>prefixed to the <abr>pa.</abr> <abr>pple.</abr> and occasionally to other parts of the verb, <abr>=</abr> earlier ȝ<i>e-</i> [<abr>Ger.</abr> <i>ge-</i>, <abr>Goth.</abr> <i>ga-</i>, together, altogether, completely], which in <abr>OE.</abr> was sparingly used as a prefix to the <abr>pple.</abr> (more commonly making a compound verb), but in 2–4 became, as ȝ<i>e-</i>, <i>y-</i>, <i>i-</i>, the regular sign of the <abr>pa.</abr> <abr>pple.</abr> in the south, as <i>y-come</i>, <i>i-don</i>, <i>i-sen</i>, <i>y-ben</i>, <i>i-ben</i>, <i>i-be</i>, etc. The toneless (<font color="darkslategray">ɪ</font>) afterwards sank into (<font color="darkslategray">ə</font>), as it is still pronounced in the south-western dialects, and was frequently written <i>a</i> distinct, or <i>a-</i> joined, in 14–16th c. As many verbs had also a derivative form in <i>a-</i> in <abr>OE.</abr> (as <i>wake awake</i>, <i>rise arise</i>), and many others were formed after them in <abr>ME.</abr>, it is not always easy to say whether a <abr>pa.</abr> <abr>pple.</abr> in <i>a-</i> is to be referred to the simple verb, or to a derivative verb in <i>a-</i>, of which no other part is known. So in <abr>mod.</abr>G. <i>ge-standen</i> may be <abr>pa.</abr> <abr>pple.</abr> of <i>stehen</i>, or of <i>ge-stehen</i>. See <kref>i-</kref>, <kref>y-</kref>.</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> | |
| <blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><ex><b><i>c</i> 1270</b> <i>Owl & Night.</i> 1602, <font color="darkmagenta">Ah thu me havest sore i-gramed That min heorte is wel neh a-lamed.</font> <b><i>c</i> 1400</b> <i>Tundale's Vis.</i> 700 <font color="darkmagenta">Then seyd Tundale ablissyd be thou.</font> <b>1458</b> <i><abr>Domest.</abr> <abr>Arch.</abr></i> (Abingdon <abr>MS.</abr>) iii. 42 <font color="darkmagenta">Chees & chekenes clerelych a dyght.</font> <b>1684</b> Bunyan <i>Pilg.</i> ii. 70 <font color="darkmagenta">The Highways have a been un-occupied heretofore.</font> <b>1859</b> W. Barnes <i>Hwomely Rhymes</i> (Dorset <abr>dial.</abr>) 61 <font color="darkmagenta">An' we have all a-left the spot, To teäke, a-scatter'd, each his lot.</font></ex></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> |
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