-a-

See also: -ǎ- and Appendix:Variations of "a"

English

Etymology 1

From of a (as in half-a-crown) or of (as in jack-a-napes from Middle English Jak of Naples). Some terms have fully incorporated the use, as ragamuffin and jackanape(s); others arise from mistaken assimilation to the form, as all-a-gog and cock-a-leekie.

Interfix

-a-

1. Connective interfix used in forming compounds, often no longer carrying a distinct meaning.

   Synonym: o'

Derived terms

• cock-a-hoop
• cock-a-leekie
• half-a-crown
• jack-a-dandy
• jack-a-lantern
• Jack-a-Lent
• jack-a-napes, jackanape
• John-a-dreams
• ragamuffin

Etymology 2

From earlier a (attested by the 14th c.), as a contraction of and and its various Middle English forms.

Conjunction

-a-

1. And

   Synonyms: an', n'

   • 1746, Exmoor Scolding, 3rd edition, section 81:

     Chem a laced well-a-fine aread

Etymology 3

From French à (“various prepositions”) and related prepositions in other Romance languages. Also from related misunderstandings, as all-a-mort from French à la morte.

Alternative forms

• à, -à-

Infix

-a-

1. Connective infix encountered in loanwords and phrases, generally no longer carrying a distinct meaning.

Derived terms

• all-a-mort
• mano-a-mano
• vis-a-vis

Etymology 4

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

Infix

-a-

1. (chemistry) Replacing carbon, especially in a ring.

Etymology 5

Clipping of rat.

Infix

-a-

1. (pharmacology) A monoclonal antibody derived from a rat.

Related terms

• -mab is the base suffix common to all monoclonal antibodies

References

• USP Dictionary of USAN and International Drug Names, U.S. Pharmacopeia, 2000

Albanian

Interfix

-a-

1. An interfix, empty morph.

Derived terms

Albanian terms interfixed with -a-

anamalas

breshkamadh

breshkaman

çalaman

dregaman

drogaman

fjalaman

frikaman

fushamirë

grindaman

gjataman

gjelaman

kotashpresë

krushkamadh

krushkaparë

lagaterë

leckaman

ndyracak

ndyraman

pordhaman

qaraman

qullaman

qurraman

rreckaman

shurdhaman

trashaman

zanafillë

zhelaman

Chichewa

Infix

-a-

1. Forms the past perfect tense in verbs.

Usage notes

This contrasts with the simple past, -na-/-da-, which does not imply completion.

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɒ]

Interfix

-a-

1. A suffix-initial vowel (or linking vowel) inserted interconsonantally between the word stem and the suffix, to ease pronunciation, without contributing to the meaning.

   ‎fiatal (“young”) + ‎-a- + -bb → ‎fiatalabb (“younger”)

See also

• -á-
• -e-
• -o-
• -ö-

Irish

Etymology

Adapted from Latin -o-, originating ultimately from Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-).

Interfix

-a-

1. -o- (linking vowel between morphemes)

Derived terms

Irish terms interfixed with -a-

criostalagrafaíocht

criostalaigineas

laraingeascóp

meatánaigineas

miotalaigineas

murtallaigineach

Lushootseed

Interfix

-a-

1. intrinsic derivational suffix or meaningless lexical linking element

Derived terms

Lushootseed terms interfixed with -a-

sʔušəbabdxʷ

ʔušəbabdxʷil

Mohawk

Interfix

-a-

1. joiner vowel used in noun incorporation
2. joiner vowel used when adding verb suffixes

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

Derived from the earlier and Old Norse genitive suffixes -a and -ar used in compounds. Akin to -e-.

Interfix

-a-

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Derived terms

Norwegian Nynorsk terms interfixed with -a-

dølahest

dølamål

ferdamann

merraflåar

strandabu

Etymology 2

Interfix

-a-

1. alternative form of -an-

Romani

Etymology

See -a.

Interfix

-a-

1. Forms the oblique singular stem of oikoclitic feminine nouns

Swahili

Infix

-a-

1. (dated) gnomic aspect marker, indefinite present marker
2. present tense marker used in headlines

   Near-synonym: -na-

   • 2023, Brian Ambani, “Maelfu Ya Kampuni Zafungwa Kufuatia Hali Ngumu”, in Taifa Leo‎, archived from the original on 21 July 2023:

     Maelfu Ya Kampuni Zafungwa Kufuatia Hali Ngumu

     Thousands of Companies Close After Difficult Situation

Conjugation

Conjugation of -a- (irregular)

		singular	plural
1st person		na-	twa-
2nd person		wa-	mwa-
3rd person	m-wa(I/II)	a-	wa-
	m-mi(III/IV)	wa-	ya-
	ji-ma(V/VI)	la-	ya-
	ki-vi(VII/VIII)	cha-	vya-
	n(IX/X)	ya-	za-
	u(XI)	wa-	see n(X) or ma(VI)
	ku(XV/XVII)	kwa-
	pa(XVI)	pa-
	mu(XVIII)	mwa-

For more information, see Appendix:Swahili verbs.

See also

Swahili TAM markers

• Initial
  • Positive infinitive: ku-/kw-¹
  • Negative infinitive: kuto-
  • Habitual: hu-¹
  • Telegrammic: ka-¹
• Final
  • General (positive indicative): -a
  • Positive subjunctive: -e
  • Negative present: -i
  • Second person plural: -ni
• Infix position positive subject concord
  • Positive past: -li-
  • Positive present: -na-
  • Positive future: -ta-
  • Negative subjunctive: -si-¹
  • Positive present conditional: -nge-
  • Negative present conditional: -singe-
  • Positive past conditional: -ngali-
  • Negative past conditional: -singali-
  • Gnomic: -a-¹
  • Perfect: -me-
  • "Already" past: -lisha-
  • "Already" present: -mesha-/-sha-
  • "If/When": -ki-¹
  • "If not": -sipo-
  • Consecutive: -ka-¹
• Infix position negative subject concord
  • Negative past: -ku-¹
  • Negative future: -ta-
  • "Not yet": -ja-¹
  • Negative present conditional: -nge-
  • Negative past conditional: -ngali-
• Relative
  • Past: -li-
  • Present: -na-
  • Future: -taka-
  • Negative: -si-

¹ Can take stress and therefore does not require -ku-/-kw- in monosyllabic verbs.

Swedish

Etymology

• In most words from an old plural genitive, Old Swedish -a, from Old Norse -a, e.g. gästabud (“feast, banquet”), from Old Swedish gæsta buþ, genitive plural of gæster (“guest”), modern Swedish gäst.
• In some words from an old singular genitive, Old Swedish -a, -ar, from Old Norse -ar, e.g. dialectal veaträ (“log of wood”) from viþaträ, cf. Icelandic viðartré, standard Swedish vedträ.
• Occasionally from an old singular genitive, Old Swedish -a, from Old Norse -a, the oblique form of weak masculines.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a/

Interfix

-a-

1. (somewhat archaic or dialectal) Genitival interfix used to link elements in some compounds

Usage notes

• Found in some common words like åratal (“years”) and barnavård (“child care”), but elsewhere mostly common in archaic or literary words like bergatroll (“mountain troll”), fiskafänge (“fishing catch”), jordagods (“landed property”), jordafärd (“funeral procession”), nådatid (“period of grace, respite”), örtagård (“herb garden”), fåraherde (“shepherd”).
• More common in dialects, especially Göta and Southern dialects of Swedish, and therefore in words derived from those dialects, e.g. lealös (“loose-jointed”), nattamat (“nighttime snack”), ålagille (“eel party”), äggakaka (“egg cake”).

Derived terms

Swedish terms interfixed with -a-

allhelgonadagen

apostlaskap

asagud

asatro

avgudabild

avgudadyrkan

barnadödlighet

barnafödande

barnamördare

barnarov

buskablyg

bäckadräkt

bäckahästen

bälgaspel

bärsärkagång

dvärgalåt

fiskafänge

fåraherde

fårakläder

gudabenådad

gudagåva

gudaskymning

gästabud

himlafärd

himlakropp

himlasfär

himlavalv

hövdingadöme

jordafärd

karlakarl

konungadöme

konungarike

krösamos

kungabesök

kungadöme

kungafamilj

kungahus

kungamord

kungamördare

kungapar

kungarike

kungaslott

lealös

ledamot

lärjungaskap

nådaskott

nådastöt

ordagrann

ordalydelse

pengapung

pengastinn

pengatvätt

påskalamm

rotabagge

sjumilaskog

sjumilastövel

själaringning

själavandring

syndabekännelse

syndabock

syndafall

syndaflod

tandagnisslan

tösabit

vargatid

vargavinter

vargaväder

vikingaskepp

vikingatid

vikingatåg

ålagille

ålahue

ålahuvud

åratal

äggakaka

änglatrumpet

änglavakt

örtagård

• bonna-

See also

• -e-

References

• Teleman, Ulf; Hellberg, Staffan; Andersson, Erik & Holm, Lisa (1999). Svenska akademiens grammatik 2 Ord. Stockholm: Svenska akad.
• Wessén, Elias (1958). Svensk språkhistoria. 2, Ordbildningslära. 3. ed. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell