Definition of A

What does the word A mean?

• part of speech: preposition

  On, to, towards, into, in. Mostly now written as pref., or oftener omitted than expressed, or confused w. A. On: abed, afoot. To: ashore. Towards: aback, afar, aside. Into: apart, asunder. In: now-a-days, twice a day; w. vbl nouns, passively, a-building, actively, was (a-) fighting, and esp. w. go, set, as he went a begging, they set the bells a ringing. [old English]

• part of speech: noun

  Letter (pl. As A\'s, Aes). (Mus.) note, and the corresponding scale. (In argument) first imaginary person or case. (Alg.) first known quantity. (Naut.) A1 (a wun), first-class ship in Lloyd\'s register; excellent, best, (colloq.). (Naut.) AE, third-class ship at Lloyd\'s. Abbreviations (1): ab, A.U.C. (urbe condita); able, A.B. (-bodied); acting, as A.A.Q.M.G. (assistant quartermaster general); assistant, as A.A.G. (adjutant general), A.Q.M.G. (quartermaster general); adjutant, as A.G. (general); aide, A.D.C. (-de-camp); anno, as A.D. (domini), A.H. (hegirae); ante, as a.m. (meridiem); army, as A.S.C. (service corps); Associate, as A.R.A. (Royal Academy); authorized, A.V. (version). Abbreviations (2): ab init., ab initio; Abp, Archbishop; a/c., account; Adm., Admiral; advt, advertisement; aet., aetatis; Ala., Alabama; Alas., Alaska; Alban., Bishop of St Alban\'s; Ariz., Arizona; Ark., Arkansas; arr., arrives.