A

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A

A first letter of the alphabet . A is a usual symbol for a low central vowel, as in father; the English long a ( ā ) is pronounced as a diphthong of ĕ and y. The corresponding letter of the Greek alphabet is named alpha. Alpha and omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolize the beginning and the end and, in the New Testament, Christ. In musical notation the letter is the symbol of a note in the scale.

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a

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

a2 ME. o, a in a distributive sense, e.g. twice a day, reduced form of ON; surviving in comps. of A-1, and NOWADAYS; linked with a gerund, as in go a-begging, etc.

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T. F. HOAD. "a." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 3 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "a." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 3, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-a1.html

T. F. HOAD. "a." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 03, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-a1.html

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A

A used in the symbol A1, applied in Lloyd's Register to ships in first-class condition in respect of hull (A) and stores (1).
Hence A1 adj. first-class.

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T. F. HOAD. "A." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 3 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "A." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 3, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-A.html

T. F. HOAD. "A." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 03, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-A.html

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