a-

a-

a-¹ [ə]

[weakened form of OE an, on, in, ON] prefix

1. in, into, on, at, to [ashore, abed]

2. in the act or state of [asleep, a-crying, a-wishing]

a-² [ə; ] for 3 [ ā]

prefix

1. [OE a-, out of, up] up, out: now generally used as an intensive [awake, arise]

2. [OE of-, af-] off, of [akin]

3. [Gr a-, an-, not] not, without: it becomes an- before a vowel [amoral, atypical]

4. AB-: used before m, p, or v [avert]

5. AD-: used before sc, sp, or st [ascribe]