conj
Meaning 1
And
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: an', n'
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
-a-
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
infix
Meaning 2
Connective infix encountered in loanwords and phrases, generally no longer carrying a distinct meaning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: morpheme
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
infix
Meaning 3
Replacing carbon, especially in a ring.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: morpheme
Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
infix
Meaning 4
A monoclonal antibody derived from a rat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: morpheme
Topics: medicine, pharmacology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
interfix
Meaning 5
Connective interfix used in forming compounds, often no longer carrying a distinct meaning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: morpheme
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: o'
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From earlier a (attested by the 14th c.), as a contraction of and and its various Middle English forms.
From French à (“various prepositions”) and related prepositions in other Romance languages. Also from related misunderstandings, as all-a-mort from French à la morte.
Clipping of rat.
From of a (as in half-a-crown) or of (as in jack-a-napes from Middle English Jak of Naples). Some terms have fully incorporated the use, as ragamuffin and jackanape(s); others arise from mistaken assimilation to the form, as all-a-gog and cock-a-leekie.