A
A (named ā in the English, and most commonly ä in other languages). The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Wes...
Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary 1913
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam Co., 1913.
Search
Find a word or entry
Current letter
A
7.793 entries
A (2)
A (ȧ emph. ā). 1. [Shortened form of an. AS. ān one. See One.] An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and signifying one or any, but less emphatically. “At a birt...
A (3)
A (ȧ), prep. [Abbreviated form of an (AS. on). See On.] 1. In; on; at; by. “A God's name.” “Torn a pieces.” “Stand a tiptoe.” “A Sundays” Shak. “Wit that men have now a days.” C...
A (4)
A. [From AS. of off, from. See Of.] Of. “The name of John a Gaunt.” “What time a day is it?” Shak. “It's six a clock.” B. Jonson.
A (5)
A. A barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it and of they. “So would I a done” “A brushes his hat.” Shak.
A (6)
A. An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meterA merry heart goes all the day,Your sad tires in a mile-a.Shak.
A 1
A 1 (ā wŭn). A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships in first-class condition. Inferior grades are indicated by A 2 and A 3.A 1 is also applied colloquial...
A B C
A B C″ (ā bē sē″). 1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet.2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading.3. The simplest ru...
A cappella
‖A cap‐pel″la (�). [It. See Chapel.] (Mus.) (a) In church or chapel style; — said of compositions sung in the old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a ...
A cheval
‖A′ che‐val″ (?). Astride; with a part on each side; — used specif. in designating the position of an army with the wings separated by some line of demarcation, as a river or ro...
A fortiori
‖A for′ti‐o″ri (�). (Logic & Math.) With stronger reason.
A mensa et thoro
‖A men″sa et tho″ro (�). (Law) A kind of divorce which does not dissolve the marriage bond, but merely authorizes a separate life of the husband and wife. Abbott.
A posteriori
‖A′ pos‐te′ri‐o″ri (�). [L. a (ab) + posterior latter.] 1. (Logic) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generali...
A priori
‖A′ pri‐o″ri (�). [L. a (ab) + prior former.] 1. (Logic) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which deduces consequences from definitions formed, or principles assumed, or whic...
A-
A–. A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies on or in (from an, a forms of AS. on), denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot, ...
A-mornings
A–morn″ings (�), adv. [See Amorwe. The -s is a genitival ending. See -wards.] In the morning; every morning.And have such pleasant walks into the woodsA-mornings.J. Fletcher.
A-sea
A–sea, adv. [Pref. a- + sea.] On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.
A-tiptoe
A–tip″toe (�), adv. On tiptoe; eagerly expecting.We all feel a-tiptoe with hope and confidence.F. Harrison.
A. F. of L.
A. F. of L. (Abbrev.) American Federation of Labor.
Aam
‖Aam (a̤m or äm), n. [D. aam, fr. LL. ama; cf. L. hama a water bucket, Gr. �] A Dutch and German measure of liquids, varying in different cities, being at Amsterdam about 41 win...
Aard-vark
‖Aard″–vark′ (ärd″värk′), n.(Zoöl.) An edentate mammal, of the genus Orycteropus, somewhat resembling a pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It burrows in the ground, a...
Aard-wolf
‖Aard″–wolf′ (ärd″wo͝olf), n.(Zoöl.) A carnivorous quadruped (Proteles Lalandii), of South Africa, resembling the fox and hyena. See Proteles.
Aaron's rod
Aar″on's rod′ (âr″ŭnz rŏd′). 1. (Arch.) A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two.2. (Bot.) A plant with a tall floweri...
Aaronic
{ Aa‐ron″ic (ā̍‐rŏn″ĭk), Aa‐ron″ic‐al (–ĭ‐kal), } a. Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.
Ab
‖Ab (ăb), n. The fifth month of the Jewish year according to the ecclesiastical reckoning, the eleventh by the civil computation, coinciding nearly with August. W. Smith.
Ab-
Ab– (ăb). [Latin prep., etymologically the same as E. of, off. See Of.] A prefix in many words of Latin origin. It signifies from, away, separating, or departure, as in abduct, ...
Abaca
‖Ab″a‐ca (ăb″ȧ‐kȧ), n. The Manila-hemp plant (Musa textilis); also, its fiber. See Manila hemp under Manila.