English

Infix

-a-

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

Synonyms

• o'

Derived terms

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
   • 1746, Exmoor Scolding 3rd ed., 81

     Chem a laced well-a-fine aread

Synonyms

• an', n'

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-

Infix

-a-

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

Derived terms

Etymology 4

Infix

-a-

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

Etymology 5

The vowel 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

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

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-