ALPHA

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew āleph aleph Date: 13th century the 1st letter of the Greek ~bet, something that is first ; beginning , ~ wave , ~ particle , II. adjective Date: 1863 closest in the structure of an organic molecule to a particular group or atom, socially dominant especially in a group of animals , ~betic