ἀ- - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

ἀ-

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Proto-Hellenic *ə-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-. The form ἀν- (an-) appears when followed by a laryngeal and a vowel: that is, in an open syllable of the n̥HV- form. Akin to νη- (nē-), νᾱ- (nā-) and νω- (nō-), which are closed-syllable reflexes of the n̥h₁C-, n̥h₂C-, n̥h₃C- forms, respectively.

Cognate with Old English and English un-, Latin in-, Sanskrit अ- (a-), Old Irish in-, an-, Armenian ան- (an-), and Albanian e-.

ᾰ̓- • (ă-)

  1. The alpha privativum, used to make words that have a sense opposite to the word (or stem) to which the prefix is attached. It is also known as privative a and alpha privative; a-, ab-, an-, anti-, contra-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, ob-, ne-, non-, not, un-

The alpha is usually short, but long when added to a stem that begins with three short syllables. Thus, words such as ἀ-δάματος (a-dámatos) begin with long alpha in Epic, and frequently also in Lyric, Tragic, or Comic poetry. ἀθάνατος (athánatos) and all its compounds always have long alpha.

ᾰ̓- • (ă-)

  1. Alternative form of ἁ- (ha-)

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

ᾰ̓- • (ă-)

  1. The alpha intensivum, used to strengthen the force of compounds.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

ᾰ̓- • (ă-)

  1. The alpha euphonicum, used to soften pronunciation before two consonants.

Categories: