a

I

[[t]ə[/t]] when stressed [[t]eɪ[/t]]

indefinite article

1) fun (used before a singular noun not referring to any specific member of a class or group or referring to a member not previously mentioned):

We need a new car. I spoke to a doctor[/ex]

2) any; every:

A dog has four legs[/ex]

3) fun one:

a hundred years; a dozen eggs; a yard of fabric[/ex]

4) fun (used indefinitely with certain quantifiers):

a great many years; a few stars[/ex]

5) the same:

two at a time[/ex]

6) a single portion, unit, type, or instance of:

two coffees and a tea[/ex]

7) fun a certain; a particular:

A Mr. Johnson called[/ex]

8) fun another; one resembling:

a Cicero in eloquence[/ex]

9) a work by:

a Van Gogh[/ex]

10) fun any; a single:

not a one[/ex]

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Etymology: ME; orig. preconsonantal phonetic var. of an I usage: In both spoken and written English a is used before words beginning with a consonant sound (a book), an before words beginning with a vowel sound (an apple). Words that start with vowel letters but are pronounced with the consonant sound (y) or (w) are preceded by a: a union; a European; a one-room apartment. The names of the consonant letters f, h, l, m, n, r, s, and x begin with a vowel sound and thus are preceded by an: an F in geometry; to fly an SST. The names of all other consonants and of the vowel u take a: a B in Spanish; a U-turn. Words that begin with the letter h sometimes cause confusion. When the h is not pronounced, the word is preceded by an: an hour. When h is pronounced, the word is preceded by a: a history of the Sioux; a hero sandwich. (Formerly, an was used before pronounced h: an hundred.) Usage is divided, however, with such words as historian, historical, heroic, and habitual, which begin with an unstressed syllable in which h may be weak or silent. The use of a is widespread in both speech and writing (a historian of ancient China; a habitual criminal), but an is also common. Hotel and unique are occasionally preceded by an, but this use is regarded as old-fashioned. II

a

[[t]ə[/t]] when stressed [[t]eɪ[/t]] prep.

use for or in each; for or in every; per:

ten cents a ride; three times a day[/ex]

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Etymology: orig. ME a, preconsonantal var. of on (see a- I); confused with a I usage: See per III

a

[[t]ə[/t]] prep.

Pron. Spelling. of (often written as part of a single word, without a hyphen):

the time a day; kinda; sorta[/ex]

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Etymology: ME IV

a

[[t]ə[/t]] aux. v.

fun Pron. Spelling. have (often written as part of a single, unhyphenated word):

We shoulda gone[/ex]

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Etymology: ME V

wam are (unit of measurement)