alpha

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈaɫ.pʰa]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈal.fa]^[1]

Forms

alpha n (indeclinable)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the name of the first letter, from Hebrew or Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (ʾālep).^[2][1][3][4] Etymonline notes that the Greeks added ⟨-a⟩ because Greek words cannot end in most consonants.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Martial, whom he dates 40–102/103 AD.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It was the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Juvenal speaks of what children learn ante alpha et bēta, before their letters, and Martial used it proverbially for the first of anything.^[2][5]

In the Vulgate Apocalypse God is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.^[5][4] British Medieval Latin used it for the first letter and for a beginning.^[6] English alpha is recorded about 1300; the sense “beginning” is from the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it.^[4]
• c. 1300 – English alpha is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet.^[2][7]
2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) The beginning; with omega, God.^[6][4]

Related words

• bēta
• English alpha

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson