an

Multiple Entries:
  an    -an    a    a-    ad-    an-    ana-  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
an/ən/

▶determiner the form of the indefinite article (see a1) used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

usage: It is better to use a rather than an before words such as hotel and historical that begin with a sounded h-. An was common in the 18th and 19th centuries because the initial h was then often not pronounced.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-an

▶suffix

• 1 forming adjectives and nouns, especially from.

  ■ names of places: Cuban.

  ■ names of systems: Anglican.

  ■ names of zoological classes or orders: crustacean.

  ■ names of founders: Lutheran.

• 2 Chemistry forming names of organic compounds, chiefly polysaccharides: dextran.

– origin from L. -anus, -ana, -anum.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
a1 (an before a vowel sound)

▶determiner

• 1 used when mentioning someone or something for the first time; the indefinite article.

  ■ one single: a hundred.

  ■ used when mentioning someone unfamiliar: a Mr Smith telephoned.

  ■ someone like (the name specified).

• 2 in, to, or for each; per: petrol prices rose by 3p a litre.

– origin ME: weak form of OE ān ‘one’.

usage: On the question of using a or an before words beginning with h, see usage at an.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
a2

▶abbreviation

• 1 (in travel timetables) arrives.

• 2 atto- (10⁻¹⁸).

• 3 Brit. (with reference to sporting fixtures) away.

• 4 (used before a date) before. [from L. ante.]

▶symbol (a) Physics acceleration.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
a-1 (often an- before a vowel)

▶prefix not; without: atheistic.

– origin from Gk.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
a-2

▶prefix

• 1 to; towards: aside.

• 2 in the process of: a-hunting.

  ■ in a specified state: aflutter.

– origin OE, unstressed form of on.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
a-3

▶prefix variant spelling of ad- before sc, sp, and st (as in ascend, aspire and astringent).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
a-4

▶prefix

• 1 of: anew.

• 2 utterly: abash.

– origin unstressed form of of (sense 1); Anglo-Norman Fr. a-, from L. ex (sense 2).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
ad- /ad/ (also a- before sc, sp, st; ac- before c, k, q; af- before f; ag- before g; al- before l; an- before n; ap- before p; ar- before r; as- before s; at- before t)

▶prefix

• 1 denoting motion or direction to: advance.

• 2 denoting reduction or change into: adulterate.

• 3 denoting addition or increase: adjunct.

– origin from L. ad ‘to’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
an-1

▶prefix variant spelling of a-1 before a vowel (as in anaemia).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
an-2

▶prefix variant spelling of ad-. assimilated before n (as in annihilate, annotate).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
an-3

▶prefix variant spelling of ana-. shortened before a vowel (as in aneurysm).

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
ana- /ˈanə/ (usu. an- before a vowel)

▶prefix

• 1 up: anabatic.

• 2 back: anamnesis.

• 3 again: anabiosis.

– origin from Gk ana ‘up’.