Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies
on orin (froman ,a forms of AS.on ), denoting a state, as ina foot, on foot,a bed,a miss,a sleep, aground,a loft,a way (AS.onweg ), and analogically,a blaze,a tremble, etc. (2) AS.of off, from, as ina down (AS.ofdūne off thedun or hill). (3) AS. ā- (Goth.us- ,ur- , Ger.er- ), usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense ofaway ,on ,back , as ina rise,a bide,a go. (4) Old Englishy- ori- (corrupted from the AS. inseparable particlege- , cognate with OHG.ga- ,gi- , Goth.ga- ), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) Frenchà (L.ad to), as ina base,a chieve. (6) L.a ,ab ,abs , from, as ina vert. (7) Greek insep. prefix α without, or privative, not, as ina byss,a theist; akin to E.un- .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- prefix no longer productive forming verbs with the sense away, up, on, out
- prefix no longer productive forming verbs with the sense of intensified action.
- prefix
Not , without, opposite of.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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At a hearing on the budget this week, led by by the scandal-plagued Chairman of the City Council, Kwame Brown, best known for demanding a "fully loaded" $1900- a- month leased SUV from city officials, activists challenged his opposition to raising taxes, the deadlocked council's complacency, and the council leadership that has ignored public opinion favoring preserving social programs.
Art Levine: GOP-Style Democrats Slash DC Budget: Homeless Moms Already Given Bus Tokens, Not Shelter Art Levine 2011
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At a hearing on the budget this week, led by by the scandal-plagued Chairman of the City Council, Kwame Brown, best known for demanding a "fully loaded" $1900- a- month leased SUV from city officials, activists challenged his opposition to raising taxes, the deadlocked council's complacency, and the council leadership that has ignored public opinion favoring preserving social programs.
Art Levine: GOP-Style Democrats Slash DC Budget: Homeless Moms Already Given Bus Tokens, Not Shelter Art Levine 2011
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So get your sweet a-, um, self over here so the rest of us can chow down.
Risk No Secrets Cindy Gerard 2010
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Traders sold around 5,000 puts at the Jan. 2013 $17.5 strike at an average premium of $1.42 each, purchased around the same number of calls up at the Jan. 2013 $25 strike for an average premium of $3.67 per contract, and sold some 5,000 calls at the Jan. 2013 $30 strike at an average premium of $1.97 a-pop.
Forbes.com: News Caitlin Duffy 2011
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I'd rather have Oh bomb a- nation for four more years.
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Another 1,500 in-the-money calls were purchased up at the Jan. 2012 $13 strike at an average premium of $1.32 a-pop.
Forbes.com: News Caitlin Duffy 2011
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A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "a-" of Sagicor Life Inc.
unknown title 2011
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A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with negative implications the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of "a-" of General Fidelity Life Insurance Company (GFLIC) (Columbia, SC).
unknown title 2011
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A.M. Best also has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the FSRs of A- Excellent and ICR of "a-" of Sagicor General Insurance Inc.
unknown title 2011
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Never write a check with your mouth you can't cash with your a-$$!
jwjarvis commented on the word a-
to i.e. in the direction of
October 15, 2010