A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various sources. (1) It frequently signifies
on or
in (from
an,
a forms of
AS. on), denoting a state, as in
afoot, on foot,
abed,
amiss,
asleep, aground,
aloft,
away (
AS. onweg), and analogically,
ablaze,
atremble, etc. (2)
AS. of off, from, as in
adown (
AS. ofdūne off the
dun or hill). (3)
AS. ā- (
Goth. us-,
ur-,
Ger. er-), usually giving an intensive force, and sometimes the sense of
away,
on,
back, as in
arise,
abide,
ago. (4) Old English
y- or
i- (corrupted from the
AS. inseparable particle
ge-, cognate with
OHG. ga-,
gi-,
Goth. ga-), which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in aware. (5) French
à (
L. ad to), as in
abase,
achieve. (6)
L. a,
ab,
abs, from, as in
avert. (7) Greek insep. prefix α without, or privative, not, as in
abyss,
atheist; akin to
E. un-.