I. ˈā noun
( plural a's or as ˈāz)
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. ə, (ˈ)ā, Canad ˈa 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. ə also (ˈ)ā 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. ə, (ˌ)a verb
Etymology: Middle English, contraction of have
Date: 14th century
archaic : have
I might a had husbands afore now — John Bunyan
V. ə preposition
Etymology: Middle English, by contraction
Date: 15th century
: of — often attached to the preceding word
kind a
lott a
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