As.abbr. AsiaAmerican Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
As.
as-
as-pref. Variant of ad-..American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.as1 (æz; unstressed ?z) adv. 1. to the same degree or extent; equally: It’s not as hot today. 2. for example: spring flowers, as the tulip. 3. thought or considered to be: the square as distinct from the rectangle. 4. in the manner indicated: She sang as promised. conj. 5. to the same degree or extent that: to run quick as a rabbit. 6. in the degree, manner, etc., of or that: Do as we do. 7. at the same time that; while; when: Pay as you enter. 8. since; because: As you are leaving last, lock the door. 9. though: Strange as it seems, it is so. 10. that the result or effect was: His voice was so loud as to make everyone stare. 11. Informal. that: I don’t know as I do. pron. 12. that; who; which (usu. prec. by such or the same): I have the same trouble as you had. 13. a fact that: She spoke the truth, as can be proved. prep. 14. in the role, function, or status of: to act as leader. Idioms: 1. as ? as, (used to express similarity or equality between one person or thing and another): as rich as Croesus. 2. as far as, to the degree or extent that: It is an excellent plan, as far as I can tell. 3. as for or to, with respect to; about; concerning: As for staying away, I wouldn’t think of it. 4. as good as, a. equivalent to: as good as new. b. true to; trustworthy as: as good as his word. 5. as if or though, as it would be if: It was as if the world had come to an end. 6. as is, in whatever condition something is in when offered, esp. if damaged. 7. as it were, in a way; so to speak: He became, as it were, a man without a country. 8. as of, beginning on; on and after; from: This price is effective as of June 23. 9. as such, a. as being what is indicated; in that capacity: An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect. b. in itself or in themselves: The job, as such, does not appeal to me. 10. as yet, up to the present time. [before 1000; Old English alsw?, ealsw? all so (see also), quite so, quite as, as; c. Middle Dutch alse, Old High German als?] usage: As a conjunction, one sense of as is ?because?: As she was bored, Sue left the room. as also has an equally common use in the sense ?while, when?: As the parade passed by, the crowd cheered. These two senses sometimes result in ambiguity: As the gates were closed, he walked away. (When? Because?) as? as is standard in both positive and negative constructions: as happy as a lark; not as humid today as it was yesterday. so? as is sometimes used in negative constructions (not so humid as it was) and in questions ( ?What is so rare as a day in June?? ). The phrase as far as generally introduces a clause: As far as money is concerned, the council has exhausted all its resources. In some informal speech and writing, as far as is treated as a preposition and followed only by an object: As far as money, the council has exhausted all its resources. as to as a compound preposition has long been standard: As to your salary, that too will be reviewed. This is occasionally criticized as a vague substitute for about or concerning, which can certainly be substituted. See also all, farther, like. as2 (æs) n., pl. as?ses (?æs ?z, -iz) 1. a copper coin of ancient Rome. 2. an ancient Roman unit of weight, equal to about 12 ounces. [1595?1605;
as
AsThe symbol for arsenic.ASabbr.1. airspeed2. American Samoa3. Anglo-Saxon4. antisubmarine5. Associate in Scienceas 1 (?z; ?z when unstressed)adv.1. To the same extent or degree; equally: The child sang as sweetly as a nightingale.2. For instance: large mammals, as the bear or lion.3. When taken into consideration in a specified relation or form: this definition as distinguished from the second one.conj.1. To the same degree or quantity that. Often used as a correlative after so or as: You are as sweet as sugar. The situation is not so bad as you suggest.2. In the same manner or way that: Think as I think.3. At the same time that; while: slipped on the ice as I ran home.4. For the reason that; because: went to bed early, as I was exhausted.5. With the result that: He was so foolish as to lie.6. Though: Great as the author was, he proved a bad model. Ridiculous as it seems, the tale is true.7. In accordance with which or with the way in which: The hotel is quite comfortable as such establishments go. The sun is hot, as everyone knows.8. Informal That: I don’t know as I can answer your question.pron.1. That; which; who. Used after same or such: I received the same grade as you did.2. Chiefly Upper Southern US Who, whom, which, or that: Those as want to can come with me.prep.1. In the role, capacity, or function of: acting as a mediator.2. In a manner similar to; the same as: On this issue they thought as one.Idioms: as is Informal Just the way it is, with no changes or modifications: bought the samovar as is from an antique dealer. as it were In a manner of speaking; as if such were so.[Middle English, from Old English ealsw?; see also.]Usage Note: Your mother is just as proud as me, said the father to the child with good grades. But should he have said, Your mother is just as proud as I? As with similar constructions using than, a traditional rule states that the pronoun following as … as … constructions must be in the nominative case because She is just as proud as I is really a truncated version of the sentence She is just as proud as I am. Another way to view this situation is to say that the second as functions as a conjunction, not as a preposition, in these sentences. Whatever the merits of this logic, the as me construction is very common in speech and appears regularly in the writing of highly respected writers. Moreover, it can be argued that the second as is really a preposition in these constructions and so requires the objective case. There is the further objection that as I constructions are overly formal, and even pretentious. In short, both constructions are defensible, and both are subject to attack. The safe bet is to include the final verb to make a clause: She is just as proud as I am. · In many dialects, people use as in place of that in sentences like We are not sure as we want to go or It’s not certain as he left. But this use of as is limited mostly to speaking, and it will likely seem inappropriate in formal writing. · Some nonstandard varieties of American English differ from the standard language in the form and usage of relative pronouns. Where Standard English has three relative pronouns?who, which, and that?regional dialects, particularly those of the South and Midlands, allow as and what as relative pronouns: “They like nothing better than the job of leading off a young feller like you, as ain’t never been away from home much” (Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage). The car what hit him never stopped. · When as expresses a causal relation, it should be preceded by a comma, as in She won’t be coming, as we didn’t invite her. When as expresses a time relation, it is not preceded by a comma: She was finishing the painting as I walked into the room. When an as-clause begins a sentence, it may be necessary to make clear whether as is used to mean “because” or “at the same time that.” The sentence As they were leaving, I walked to the door may mean either “I walked to the door because they were leaving” or “I walked to the door at the same time that they were leaving.” · As is sometimes used after verbs like consider, deem, and account, as in The paintings are considered as masterpieces in their home country. The measure was deemed as unnecessary. This usage may have arisen by analogy to the long-established use of as after regard and esteem in standard contexts: We regarded her as the best writer among us. In our 2009 survey, however, more than 80 percent of the Usage Panel rejected sentences in which as followed consider in this way, including the sentence just quoted. These constructions bear the stigma of redundancy and should be avoided in careful writing. See Usage Notes at because, equal, like2, so1.as 2 (?s)n. pl. as·ses (?s??z?, ?s??z) 1. An ancient Roman coin of copper or copper alloy.2. An ancient Roman unit of weight equal to about one troy pound.[Latin.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.as (æz; unstressed ?z) conj (subordinating) 1. (often preceded by just) while; when; at the time that: he caught me as I was leaving. 2. in the way that: dancing as only she can. 3. that which; what: I did as I was told. 4. (of) which fact, event, etc (referring to the previous statement): to become wise, as we all know, is not easy. 5. as it were in a way; so to speak; as if it were really so6. as you were a. a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etcb. a statement to withdraw something just said7. (Military) a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etc8. a statement to withdraw something just said9. since; seeing that: as you’re in charge here, you’d better tell me where to wait. 10. in the same way that: he died of cancer, as his father had done. 11. in spite of the extent to which: intelligent as you are, I suspect you will fail. 12. for instance: capital cities, as London. adv, conja. used correlatively before an adjective or adverb and before a noun phrase or a clause to indicate identity of extent, amount, etc: she is as heavy as her sister; she is as heavy now as she used to be. b. used with this sense after a noun phrase introduced by the same: she is the same height as her sister. prep13. in the role of; being: as his friend, I am probably biased. 14. as for as to with reference to: as for my past, I’m not telling you anything. 15. as from as of formal (in expressions of time) from: fares on all routes will rise as from January 11. 16. as if as though as it would be if: he talked as if he knew all about it. 17. as is as it is in the existing state of affairs: as it is, I shall have difficulty finishing all this work, without any more. 18. as per See per319. as regards See regard620. as such See such321. such as See such522. as was in a previous state23. as well See well11324. as yet up to now; so far: I have received no compensation as yet. [Old English alsw? likewise; see also]Usage: See at like1as (æs) n1. (Units) an ancient Roman unit of weight approximately equal to 1 pound troy (373 grams)2. (Currencies) the standard monetary unit and copper coin of ancient Rome[C17: from Latin ?s unity, probably of Etruscan origin]as the internet domain name for (Computer Science) American Samoa As symbol for 1. (Elements & Compounds) chem arsenic 2. (Physical Geography) altostratus AS abbreviation for 1. (Peoples) Also: A.S. Anglo-Saxon 2. (Military) antisubmarine 3. Australian Standards Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014as1 (æz; unstressed ?z) adv. 1. to the same degree or extent; equally: It’s not as hot today. 2. for example: spring flowers, as the tulip. 3. thought or considered to be: the square as distinct from the rectangle. 4. in the manner indicated: She sang as promised. conj. 5. to the same degree or extent that: to run quick as a rabbit. 6. in the degree, manner, etc., of or that: Do as we do. 7. at the same time that; while; when: Pay as you enter. 8. since; because: As you are leaving last, lock the door. 9. though: Strange as it seems, it is so. 10. that the result or effect was: His voice was so loud as to make everyone stare. 11. Informal. that: I don’t know as I do. pron. 12. that; who; which (usu. prec. by such or the same): I have the same trouble as you had. 13. a fact that: She spoke the truth, as can be proved. prep. 14. in the role, function, or status of: to act as leader. Idioms: 1. as ? as, (used to express similarity or equality between one person or thing and another): as rich as Croesus. 2. as far as, to the degree or extent that: It is an excellent plan, as far as I can tell. 3. as for or to, with respect to; about; concerning: As for staying away, I wouldn’t think of it. 4. as good as, a. equivalent to: as good as new. b. true to; trustworthy as: as good as his word. 5. as if or though, as it would be if: It was as if the world had come to an end. 6. as is, in whatever condition something is in when offered, esp. if damaged. 7. as it were, in a way; so to speak: He became, as it were, a man without a country. 8. as of, beginning on; on and after; from: This price is effective as of June 23. 9. as such, a. as being what is indicated; in that capacity: An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect. b. in itself or in themselves: The job, as such, does not appeal to me. 10. as yet, up to the present time. [before 1000; Old English alsw?, ealsw? all so (see also), quite so, quite as, as; c. Middle Dutch alse, Old High German als?] usage: As a conjunction, one sense of as is ?because?: As she was bored, Sue left the room. as also has an equally common use in the sense ?while, when?: As the parade passed by, the crowd cheered. These two senses sometimes result in ambiguity: As the gates were closed, he walked away. (When? Because?) as? as is standard in both positive and negative constructions: as happy as a lark; not as humid today as it was yesterday. so? as is sometimes used in negative constructions (not so humid as it was) and in questions ( ?What is so rare as a day in June?? ). The phrase as far as generally introduces a clause: As far as money is concerned, the council has exhausted all its resources. In some informal speech and writing, as far as is treated as a preposition and followed only by an object: As far as money, the council has exhausted all its resources. as to as a compound preposition has long been standard: As to your salary, that too will be reviewed. This is occasionally criticized as a vague substitute for about or concerning, which can certainly be substituted. See also all, farther, like. as2 (æs) n., pl. as?ses (?æs ?z, -iz) 1. a copper coin of ancient Rome. 2. an ancient Roman unit of weight, equal to about 12 ounces. [1595?1605; If something happens as something else happens, it happens while the other thing is happening.You also use as to say that something is done whenever something happens.Be Careful!Don’t use ‘as’ simply to mean ‘at the time that’. For example, don’t say ‘As I started work here, the pay was £20 an hour’. You say ‘When I started work here, the pay was £20 an hour’.As is often used to mean ‘because’ or ‘since’.You can use as in front of an adjective to say how someone or something is regarded or described.Be Careful!Don’t use ‘as’ after comparative adjectives. Don’t say, for example, ‘The trees are taller as the church’. You say ‘The trees are taller than the church’.You can also use as in prepositional phrases to say how someone or something is regarded, described, treated, or used.You can also use as in prepositional phrases to say what role or function someone or something has.In writing, as is sometimes used to compare one action to another.Like and the way are used in a similar way.Be Careful!You don’t usually use ‘as’ in front of a noun phrase when you are comparing one thing or person to another. Don’t say, for example, ‘She sang as a bird’. You say ‘She sang like a bird’.Be Careful!However, you can make a comparison using as, an adjective or adverb, and another as. For example, you can say ‘You’re just as bad as your sister’.You can use like, as, or the way as conjunctions when you are comparing one person’s behaviour or appearance to another’s. In the clause which follows the conjunction, the verb is usually do.For example, you can say ‘He walked to work every day, like his father had done’, ‘He walked to work every day, as his father had done’, or ‘He walked to work every day, the way his father had done’.Like and as can be prepositions, but their meaning is not usually the same. For example, if you do something like a particular kind of person, you do it the way that kind of person would do it, although you are not that kind of person.If you do something as a particular kind of person, you are that kind of person.
ÅS
AsThe symbol for arsenic.ASabbr.1. airspeed2. American Samoa3. Anglo-Saxon4. antisubmarine5. Associate in Scienceas 1 (?z; ?z when unstressed)adv.1. To the same extent or degree; equally: The child sang as sweetly as a nightingale.2. For instance: large mammals, as the bear or lion.3. When taken into consideration in a specified relation or form: this definition as distinguished from the second one.conj.1. To the same degree or quantity that. Often used as a correlative after so or as: You are as sweet as sugar. The situation is not so bad as you suggest.2. In the same manner or way that: Think as I think.3. At the same time that; while: slipped on the ice as I ran home.4. For the reason that; because: went to bed early, as I was exhausted.5. With the result that: He was so foolish as to lie.6. Though: Great as the author was, he proved a bad model. Ridiculous as it seems, the tale is true.7. In accordance with which or with the way in which: The hotel is quite comfortable as such establishments go. The sun is hot, as everyone knows.8. Informal That: I don’t know as I can answer your question.pron.1. That; which; who. Used after same or such: I received the same grade as you did.2. Chiefly Upper Southern US Who, whom, which, or that: Those as want to can come with me.prep.1. In the role, capacity, or function of: acting as a mediator.2. In a manner similar to; the same as: On this issue they thought as one.Idioms: as is Informal Just the way it is, with no changes or modifications: bought the samovar as is from an antique dealer. as it were In a manner of speaking; as if such were so.[Middle English, from Old English ealsw?; see also.]Usage Note: Your mother is just as proud as me, said the father to the child with good grades. But should he have said, Your mother is just as proud as I? As with similar constructions using than, a traditional rule states that the pronoun following as … as … constructions must be in the nominative case because She is just as proud as I is really a truncated version of the sentence She is just as proud as I am. Another way to view this situation is to say that the second as functions as a conjunction, not as a preposition, in these sentences. Whatever the merits of this logic, the as me construction is very common in speech and appears regularly in the writing of highly respected writers. Moreover, it can be argued that the second as is really a preposition in these constructions and so requires the objective case. There is the further objection that as I constructions are overly formal, and even pretentious. In short, both constructions are defensible, and both are subject to attack. The safe bet is to include the final verb to make a clause: She is just as proud as I am. · In many dialects, people use as in place of that in sentences like We are not sure as we want to go or It’s not certain as he left. But this use of as is limited mostly to speaking, and it will likely seem inappropriate in formal writing. · Some nonstandard varieties of American English differ from the standard language in the form and usage of relative pronouns. Where Standard English has three relative pronouns?who, which, and that?regional dialects, particularly those of the South and Midlands, allow as and what as relative pronouns: “They like nothing better than the job of leading off a young feller like you, as ain’t never been away from home much” (Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage). The car what hit him never stopped. · When as expresses a causal relation, it should be preceded by a comma, as in She won’t be coming, as we didn’t invite her. When as expresses a time relation, it is not preceded by a comma: She was finishing the painting as I walked into the room. When an as-clause begins a sentence, it may be necessary to make clear whether as is used to mean “because” or “at the same time that.” The sentence As they were leaving, I walked to the door may mean either “I walked to the door because they were leaving” or “I walked to the door at the same time that they were leaving.” · As is sometimes used after verbs like consider, deem, and account, as in The paintings are considered as masterpieces in their home country. The measure was deemed as unnecessary. This usage may have arisen by analogy to the long-established use of as after regard and esteem in standard contexts: We regarded her as the best writer among us. In our 2009 survey, however, more than 80 percent of the Usage Panel rejected sentences in which as followed consider in this way, including the sentence just quoted. These constructions bear the stigma of redundancy and should be avoided in careful writing. See Usage Notes at because, equal, like2, so1.as 2 (?s)n. pl. as·ses (?s??z?, ?s??z) 1. An ancient Roman coin of copper or copper alloy.2. An ancient Roman unit of weight equal to about one troy pound.[Latin.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.as (æz; unstressed ?z) conj (subordinating) 1. (often preceded by just) while; when; at the time that: he caught me as I was leaving. 2. in the way that: dancing as only she can. 3. that which; what: I did as I was told. 4. (of) which fact, event, etc (referring to the previous statement): to become wise, as we all know, is not easy. 5. as it were in a way; so to speak; as if it were really so6. as you were a. a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etcb. a statement to withdraw something just said7. (Military) a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etc8. a statement to withdraw something just said9. since; seeing that: as you’re in charge here, you’d better tell me where to wait. 10. in the same way that: he died of cancer, as his father had done. 11. in spite of the extent to which: intelligent as you are, I suspect you will fail. 12. for instance: capital cities, as London. adv, conja. used correlatively before an adjective or adverb and before a noun phrase or a clause to indicate identity of extent, amount, etc: she is as heavy as her sister; she is as heavy now as she used to be. b. used with this sense after a noun phrase introduced by the same: she is the same height as her sister. prep13. in the role of; being: as his friend, I am probably biased. 14. as for as to with reference to: as for my past, I’m not telling you anything. 15. as from as of formal (in expressions of time) from: fares on all routes will rise as from January 11. 16. as if as though as it would be if: he talked as if he knew all about it. 17. as is as it is in the existing state of affairs: as it is, I shall have difficulty finishing all this work, without any more. 18. as per See per319. as regards See regard620. as such See such321. such as See such522. as was in a previous state23. as well See well11324. as yet up to now; so far: I have received no compensation as yet. [Old English alsw? likewise; see also]Usage: See at like1as (æs) n1. (Units) an ancient Roman unit of weight approximately equal to 1 pound troy (373 grams)2. (Currencies) the standard monetary unit and copper coin of ancient Rome[C17: from Latin ?s unity, probably of Etruscan origin]as the internet domain name for (Computer Science) American Samoa As symbol for 1. (Elements & Compounds) chem arsenic 2. (Physical Geography) altostratus AS abbreviation for 1. (Peoples) Also: A.S. Anglo-Saxon 2. (Military) antisubmarine 3. Australian Standards Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014as1 (æz; unstressed ?z) adv. 1. to the same degree or extent; equally: It’s not as hot today. 2. for example: spring flowers, as the tulip. 3. thought or considered to be: the square as distinct from the rectangle. 4. in the manner indicated: She sang as promised. conj. 5. to the same degree or extent that: to run quick as a rabbit. 6. in the degree, manner, etc., of or that: Do as we do. 7. at the same time that; while; when: Pay as you enter. 8. since; because: As you are leaving last, lock the door. 9. though: Strange as it seems, it is so. 10. that the result or effect was: His voice was so loud as to make everyone stare. 11. Informal. that: I don’t know as I do. pron. 12. that; who; which (usu. prec. by such or the same): I have the same trouble as you had. 13. a fact that: She spoke the truth, as can be proved. prep. 14. in the role, function, or status of: to act as leader. Idioms: 1. as ? as, (used to express similarity or equality between one person or thing and another): as rich as Croesus. 2. as far as, to the degree or extent that: It is an excellent plan, as far as I can tell. 3. as for or to, with respect to; about; concerning: As for staying away, I wouldn’t think of it. 4. as good as, a. equivalent to: as good as new. b. true to; trustworthy as: as good as his word. 5. as if or though, as it would be if: It was as if the world had come to an end. 6. as is, in whatever condition something is in when offered, esp. if damaged. 7. as it were, in a way; so to speak: He became, as it were, a man without a country. 8. as of, beginning on; on and after; from: This price is effective as of June 23. 9. as such, a. as being what is indicated; in that capacity: An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect. b. in itself or in themselves: The job, as such, does not appeal to me. 10. as yet, up to the present time. [before 1000; Old English alsw?, ealsw? all so (see also), quite so, quite as, as; c. Middle Dutch alse, Old High German als?] usage: As a conjunction, one sense of as is ?because?: As she was bored, Sue left the room. as also has an equally common use in the sense ?while, when?: As the parade passed by, the crowd cheered. These two senses sometimes result in ambiguity: As the gates were closed, he walked away. (When? Because?) as? as is standard in both positive and negative constructions: as happy as a lark; not as humid today as it was yesterday. so? as is sometimes used in negative constructions (not so humid as it was) and in questions ( ?What is so rare as a day in June?? ). The phrase as far as generally introduces a clause: As far as money is concerned, the council has exhausted all its resources. In some informal speech and writing, as far as is treated as a preposition and followed only by an object: As far as money, the council has exhausted all its resources. as to as a compound preposition has long been standard: As to your salary, that too will be reviewed. This is occasionally criticized as a vague substitute for about or concerning, which can certainly be substituted. See also all, farther, like. as2 (æs) n., pl. as?ses (?æs ?z, -iz) 1. a copper coin of ancient Rome. 2. an ancient Roman unit of weight, equal to about 12 ounces. [1595?1605; If something happens as something else happens, it happens while the other thing is happening.You also use as to say that something is done whenever something happens.Be Careful!Don’t use ‘as’ simply to mean ‘at the time that’. For example, don’t say ‘As I started work here, the pay was £20 an hour’. You say ‘When I started work here, the pay was £20 an hour’.As is often used to mean ‘because’ or ‘since’.You can use as in front of an adjective to say how someone or something is regarded or described.Be Careful!Don’t use ‘as’ after comparative adjectives. Don’t say, for example, ‘The trees are taller as the church’. You say ‘The trees are taller than the church’.You can also use as in prepositional phrases to say how someone or something is regarded, described, treated, or used.You can also use as in prepositional phrases to say what role or function someone or something has.In writing, as is sometimes used to compare one action to another.Like and the way are used in a similar way.Be Careful!You don’t usually use ‘as’ in front of a noun phrase when you are comparing one thing or person to another. Don’t say, for example, ‘She sang as a bird’. You say ‘She sang like a bird’.Be Careful!However, you can make a comparison using as, an adjective or adverb, and another as. For example, you can say ‘You’re just as bad as your sister’.You can use like, as, or the way as conjunctions when you are comparing one person’s behaviour or appearance to another’s. In the clause which follows the conjunction, the verb is usually do.For example, you can say ‘He walked to work every day, like his father had done’, ‘He walked to work every day, as his father had done’, or ‘He walked to work every day, the way his father had done’.Like and as can be prepositions, but their meaning is not usually the same. For example, if you do something like a particular kind of person, you do it the way that kind of person would do it, although you are not that kind of person.If you do something as a particular kind of person, you are that kind of person.
a’s
a-(word root) not, fromExamples of words with the root a-: asexual, atheistAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary EmbreeAabbr.1. accusative2. Games ace3. across4. adenine5. alto6. ampere7. or Å angstrom8. answer9. area10. Sports assista 1 or A (?)n. pl. a’s or A’s also as or As 1. The first letter of the modern English alphabet.2. Any of the speech sounds represented by the letter a.3. The first in a series.4. Something shaped like the letter A.5. A The best or highest in quality or rank: grade A milk.6. Music a. The sixth tone in the scale of C major or the first tone in the relative minor scale.b. A key or scale in which A is the tonic.c. A written or printed note representing this tone.d. A string, key, or pipe tuned to the pitch of this tone.7. A One of the four major blood groups in the ABO system. Individuals with this blood group have the A antigen on the surface of their red blood cells, and the anti-B antibody in their blood serum.Idiom: from A to Z Completely; thoroughly.a 2 (?; ? when stressed)indef.art.1. Used before nouns and noun phrases that denote a single but unspecified person or thing: a region; a person.2. Used before terms that denote number, amount, quantity, or degree: only a few of the voters; a bit more rest; a little excited.3. a. Used before a proper name to denote a type or a member of a class: the wisdom of a Socrates.b. Used before a mass noun to indicate a single type or example: a dry wine.4. The same: birds of a feather.5. Any: not a drop to drink.[Middle English, variant of an, an; see an1.]Usage Note: In writing, the form a is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound, regardless of its spelling (a frog, a university, a euphemism). The form an is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound (an orange, an hour). · An was once a common variant before words beginning with h in which the first syllable was unstressed; thus 18th-century authors wrote either a historical or an historical but a history, not an history. This usage made sense in that people often did not pronounce the initial h in words such as historical and heroic, but by the late 19th century educated speakers usually gave their initial h’s a huff, and the practice of writing an before such words began to die out. Nowadays it survives primarily before the word historical. One may also come across it in the phrases an hysterectomy or an hereditary trait. These usages are acceptable in formal writing.a 3 (?)prep. In every; to each; per: once a month; one dollar a pound.[Middle English, from Old English an, in; see on.]a 4 (?)aux.v. Informal Have: He’d a come if he could.[Middle English, alteration of haven, to have; see have.]a 5abbr.1. acceleration2. are (measurement)American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.a (e?) or An, pl a’s, A’s or As1. (Linguistics) the first letter and first vowel of the modern English alphabet2. (Phonetics & Phonology) any of several speech sounds represented by this letter, in English as in take, bag, calm, shortage, or cobra3. (Education) Also called: alpha the first in a series, esp the highest grade or mark, as in an examination4. from A to Z from start to finish, thoroughly and in detaila (?; stressed or emphatic e?) determiner (indefinite article; used before an initial consonant) 1. used preceding a singular countable noun, if the noun is not previously specified or known: a dog; a terrible disappointment. 2. used preceding a proper noun to indicate that a person or thing has some of the qualities of the one named: a Romeo; a Shylock. 3. used preceding a noun or determiner of quantity: a cupful; a dozen eggs; a great many; to read a lot. 4. used preceding a noun indicating a concrete or abstract thing capable of being divided: half a loaf; a quarter of a minute. 5. (preceded by: once, twice, several times, etc) each or every; per: once a day; fifty pence a pound. 6. a certain; one: to change policy at a stroke; a Mr Jones called. 7. (preceded by not) any at all: not a hope. a (?) vb an informal or dialect word for have: they’d a said if they’d known. a (?) prep (usually linked to the preceding noun) an informal form of of: sorta sad; a kinda waste. a symbol for 1. (General Physics) acceleration 2. (Units) are(s) (metric measure of land) 3. (Units) atto- 4. (Chess & Draughts) chess See algebraic notation A symbol for 1. (Classical Music) music a. a note having a frequency of 440 hertz (A above middle C) or this value multiplied or divided by any power of 2; the sixth note of the scale of C majorb. a key, string, or pipe producing this notec. the major or minor key having this note as its tonic 2. (Biochemistry) a human blood type of the ABO group, containing the A antigen 3. (Automotive Engineering) (in Britain) a major arterial road: the A3 runs from London to Portsmouth. 4. (Film) (formerly, in Britain)a. a film certified for viewing by anyone, but which contains material that some parents may not wish their children to seeb. (as modifier): an A film. 5. (General Physics) mass number 6. (Mathematics) the number 10 in hexadecimal notation 7. (Card Games) cards ace 8. (Chemistry) chem argon (now superseded by Ar) 9. (Electronics) ampere(s) 10. (Electrical Engineering) Also: at ampere-turn 11. (General Physics) absolute (temperature) 12. (Electronics) (in circuit diagrams) ammeter 13. (Mathematics) area 14. (General Physics) (in combination) atomic: an A-bomb; an A-plant. 15. (Chemistry) chem affinity 16. (Biochemistry) biochem adenine 17. (Logic) logic a universal affirmative categorical proposition, such as all men are mortal: often symbolized as SaP. Compare E, I2, O1 18. a. a person whose job is in top management, or who holds a senior administrative or professional position b. (as modifier): an A worker. See also occupation groupings abbreviation for (Automotive Engineering) Austria (international car registration) [from Latin a(ffirmo) I affirm]Å symbol for (General Physics) angstrom unit Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014A, a (e?) n., pl. A’s As, a’s as. 1. the first letter of the English alphabet, a vowel. 2. any spoken sound represented by this letter. 3. something shaped like an A. 4. a written or printed representation of the letter A or a. Idioms: from A to Z, from beginning to end; completely; thoroughly: He knows the Bible from A to Z. a1 (?; when stressed e?) indefinite article. 1. (used before a singular noun not referring to any specific member of a class or group or referring to a member not previously mentioned): We need a new car. I spoke to a doctor. 2. any; every: A dog has four legs. 3. one: a hundred years; a dozen eggs; a yard of fabric. 4. (used indefinitely with certain quantifiers): a great many years; a few stars. 5. the same: two at a time. 6. a single portion, unit, type, or instance of: two coffees and a tea. 7. a certain; a particular: A Mr. Johnson called. 8. another; one resembling: a Cicero in eloquence. 9. a work by: a Van Gogh. 10. any; a single: not a one. [Middle English; orig. preconsonantal phonetic variant of an1] usage: In both spoken and written English a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound (a book), an before words beginning with a vowel sound (an apple). Words that start with vowel letters but are pronounced with the consonant sound (y) or (w) are preceded by a: a union; a European; a one-room apartment. The names of the consonant letters f, h, l, m, n, r, s, and x begin with a vowel sound and thus are preceded by an: an F in geometry; to fly an SST. The names of all other consonants and of the vowel u take a: a B in Spanish; a U-turn. Words that begin with the letter h sometimes cause confusion. When the h is not pronounced, the word is preceded by an: an hour. When h is pronounced, the word is preceded by a: a history of the Sioux; a hero sandwich. (Formerly, an was used before pronounced h:an hundred.) Usage is divided, however, with such words as historian, historical, heroic, and habitual, which begin with an unstressed syllable in which h may be weak or silent. The use of a is widespread in both speech and writing (a historian of ancient China; a habitual criminal), but an is also common. Hotel and unique are occasionally preceded by an, but this use is regarded as old-fashioned. a2 (?; when stressed e?) prep. for or in each; for or in every; per: ten cents a ride; three times a day.[orig. Middle English a, preconsonantal variant of on (see a-1); confused with a1]usage: See per.a3 (?) prep. Pron. Spelling. of (often written as part of a single word, without a hyphen): the time a day; kinda; sorta.[Middle English]a4 (?) auxiliary verb. Pron. Spelling. have (often written as part of a single, unhyphenated word): We shoulda gone.[Middle English]Å Physics Symbol. angstrom. A 1. ampere. 2. angstrom. 3. answer. A Symbol. 1. the first in order or in a series. 2. (sometimes l.c.) (in some grading systems) a grade or mark indicating excellence or superiority. 3. a. the sixth tone of the ascending C major scale. b. the tonality having A as the tonic. 4. a major blood group. Compare ABO system. 5. adenine. 6. alanine. 7. (formerly) argon. 8. mass number. a are (unit of measurement). A- atomic (used in combination): A-bomb; A-plant. a-1 , a reduced form of the Old English preposition on, meaning ?on,? ?in,? ?into,? ?to,? ?toward,? preserved before a noun or adjective in a prepositional phrase, forming a predicate adjective or an adverbial element (afar; afoot; aloud; ashore; away). By analogy with original nominal collocations, a-1 has been joined to verbs, the resulting formation having the force of a present participle (ablaze; astride; awash). [Middle English, late Old English; compare a2, nowadays] a-2 , a reduced form of the Old English preposition of: akin; afresh.a-3 , a verbal prefix with the historical sense ?out, up,? occurring in verbs and verb derivatives inherited from Old and Middle English, usu. marking the inception or completion of the action denoted by the base verb: abide; accursed; arise; ashamed; awake.[Middle English; Old English]a-4 , var. of ab- before b, m, and v: amanuensis; avert.[Middle English You usually use a and an when it is not clear or important which specific thing or person you are referring to. You only use a and an with singular countable nouns. When you are talking about a specific person or thing, you usually use the.You can describe someone or something using a or an with an adjective and a noun, or with a noun followed by more information.Be Careful!Don’t omit a or an in front of a noun when the noun refers to someone’s profession or job. For example, you say ‘He is an architect’. Don’t say ‘He is architect’.You use a in front of words beginning with consonant sounds and an in front of words beginning with vowel sounds.You use an in front of words beginning with ‘h’ when the ‘h’ is not pronounced. For example, you say ‘an honest man’. Don’t say ‘a honest man’.An is used in front of the following words beginning with ‘h’:You use a in front of words beginning with ‘u’ when the ‘u’ is pronounced /ju?/ (like ‘you’). For example, you say ‘a unique occasion’. Don’t say ‘an unique occasion’.A is used in front of the following words:You use an in front of an abbreviation when the letters are pronounced separately and the first letter begins with a vowel sound.A and an are used to mean ‘one’ in front of some numbers and units of measurement.