a-

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Forming verbs with the sense away, up, on, out.

   • arise, await
2. 2

   Forming verbs with the sense of intensified action.

   • abide, amaze
3. 3

   In, on, at

   In, on, at; used to show a state, condition, or manner. Also passing into sense 2.

   • aglow, apace, afire, aboil, a-bling, abluster
4. ›+ 13 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      In, into. Also passing into sense 5.

      • asunder
   2. 5

      In the direction of, or toward.

      • astern, abeam
   3. 6

      At such a time.

      • Come a-morning we are going hunting.
   4. 7

      In the act or process of. Used in some dialects before a present participle.

      • hits a-poppin
      • doins a-transpirin
   5. 8

      Alternative form of y-. In dialect, it is sometimes conflated with sense 5 of the…

      Alternative form of y-. In dialect, it is sometimes conflated with sense 5 of the previous definition, and is used as a general indicator of a participle.

      • aware, alike
   6. 9

      Used to form the past participle of a verb.

      • I have a-gone.
      • I have a-seen a bird.
   7. 10

      Forming words with the sense of wholly, or utterly out.

      • abash
   8. 11

      Not, without, opposite of.

      • amoral, asymmetry, atheism, asexual, acyclic, atypical
      • When invited to believe in the Chimaera, the horse-centaurs, or the winged horse Pegasus, all of them straightforward Pelasgian cult-symbols, a philosopher felt bound to reject them as a-zoölogical improbabilities ….
      • If aroused outside the proper outlet of marriage, [female lust] could range out of control, turning its possessor into an a-feminine monster: that is what happened to fallen women.
   9. 12

      Towards

      Towards; Used to indicate direction, reduction to, increase to, change into, or motion.

      • ascend, aspire, amass, abandon, avenue
   10. 13

       Away from.

       • avert, aperient, abridge, assoil, assoilzie
   11. 14

       Of, from.

       • anew, afresh, athirst
   12. 15

       Alternative form of -a (“empty syllable added to songs, poetry, verse and other speech”).

       • A-tisket a-tasket, A green and yellow basket
   13. 16

       Used as a prefix to verbs in the sense of remaining in the same condition. Actively doing…

       Used as a prefix to verbs in the sense of remaining in the same condition. Actively doing something.

       • a-be, a-going
       • Let that choilt a-be, wilt ta.

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