English

Etymology

Various – see the sections below.

Prefix

a-

English etymology

Abbreviation of arc-.

1. (mathematics) Same as arc-.

Germanic etymologies

Anglo-Saxon an or a, on, in

1. denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot, abed, amiss, asleep, aground , aloft, away (Anglo Saxon onweg), and analogically , ablaze, atremble , etc.

Anglo-Saxon, meaning of, off or from

1. as in adown (Anglo Saxon ofdūne off the dun or hill).

Anglo-Saxon ā- and Gothic us-, ur-, German er-

1. usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense of away, on, back, as in arise, abide, ago.

Old English y- or i- (corrupted from the Anglo Saxon inseparable particle ge- , cognate with Old High German ga-, gi-, Gothic ga-)

1. Making no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware.

In modern informal speech, an "a-" is sometimes prefixed to adverbial or adjectival elements, such as gerunds, presumably prompted by its use in words like aware, aloft or asea. Example: Gotta keep those loving good vibrations a-happening with her — Brian Wilson, Good Vibrations (1960s)

Romance etymologies

French à, from Latin ad

1. to, as in abase, achieve.

Latin a, ab, abs ,

1. from, as in avert.

Greek etymology

Inseparable prefix &alpha ; without, or privative ,

1. not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to English un-.