(a) The letter A of the alphabet; cp. a-per-se; (b) the letter A used in enumeration, in labeling a diagram or a square on the chess board, the recto of a folio, a star, etc.; (c) the dominical letter……
Referring to an unspecified, or as yet unspecified, member of a class or representative of a type; -- (a) as the first unit in a noun phrase [the usual construction]; (b) before an adj. modifying a……
An exclamation used in a great variety of situations to express attitudes and emotions ranging from admiration to scorn and from joy to grief, or simply to attract attention; -- (a) alone; (b) before……
In verbs inherited from OE:(a) From OE ā-: a-biden, a-breken, a-fallen, a-reren, a-risen, a-senden, a-waken, a-winnen, and many others. (b) From OE on-: a-biden (also an-biden), ppl. a-knoue(n (also……
From early ME a prep., derived from unstressed an before nouns, adjs., and advs. beginning with a consonant [OE on, an]. (a) Orig. noun phrases: a-beggeþ, a-bedde, a-blode, a-clokke, a-dai(es,……
(a) The act or occasion of keeping a hunted animal at bay by barking dogs; (b) of dogs: holden at abai, keep (an animal) at bay; stonden at abai, surround an animal; hunten to abai, chase (an animal)……
