-a Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
Now being printed more and more to represent the sound that replaces of in rapid (especially popular or informal) speech, as in ...
A Quick reference
The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (2 ed.)
*Adverbial as an *element of *clause structure.
The symbol is used in some modern analyses of clause
a. Reference library
The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style
Choice Between a and an.
The indefinite article a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, including
a, an Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
In origin, a (and its by-form an), which is usually called the indefinite article, but now, by many grammarians, an indefinite or central determiner, is a version of OE ...
a, an Quick reference
Fowler’s Concise Dictionary of Modern English Usage (3 ed.)
called the indefinite article (or, by some grammarians, determiner). In origin, a and its by-form an are versions of the
a- 1 Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
a prefix denoting lack of something or negation, represents Greek ἀ- before a consonant and becomes an- (Greek ...
a- 2 Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
In origin a preposition, it is recorded from 1523 onwards in many literary works, (a) with be: engaged in (...
a-word Quick reference
The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (2 ed.)
A *word beginning with the syllable a and belonging to a class of words (some more like adjectives, others
a.m. Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
As an abbreviation of Latin ante meridiem ‘before noon’, it is always pronounced as /ˌeɪˈɛm/, and is normally written in the form ...
AAVE Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
An initialism for
abacus Quick reference
Fowler’s Concise Dictionary of Modern English Usage (3 ed.)
The plural is abacuses, when referring to a counting device. In its architectural meaning the plural of abacus is
abacus Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
In its meaning of a calculating device, this Latin word has the plural abacuses. In its architectural meaning, denoting the flat slab on top of a capital, the Latin plural ...
abandon n. Reference library
The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style
The usual idiom is wild abandon or reckless abandon (= unrestrained impulsiveness), not abandonment (= the giving up of something).
abbreviated Quick reference
The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (2 ed.)
Shortened or contracted so that a part stands for the whole.
This term is used to designate language (a clause,
abbreviation Quick reference
The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (2 ed.)
A shortened form of a *word or *phrase, standing for the whole.
This term is applied in
abbreviations Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
For abbreviations other than shortened forms, which are dealt with below, see
These are words such as ...
abbreviations Quick reference
Fowler’s Concise Dictionary of Modern English Usage (3 ed.)
There are several kinds of abbreviations: shortenings, contractions, initialisms, and acronyms. 1 Shortenings of words, though formerly condemned by literary
abbreviations Reference library
The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style
Acronyms and Initialisms.
Five points merit our attention here. First, we should be aware of the difference between the two
abdication Reference library
Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage (4 ed.)
For confusion of abrogation with this, see
abdomen Quick reference
Fowler’s Concise Dictionary of Modern English Usage (3 ed.)
Stress is normally on the first syllable.
