a Latin · revision 17763
18 Oct 2026, 18:36 by bogdan “Latin la10k: aut, nec, de, a, ne, quam, ac, enim, nemo, per”
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+ {{homograph|1|from}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *h₂ep-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''ā''' (+ ablative)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The preposition is the form of [[ab]] used before most consonants: ⟨ab⟩ stands before vowels and ⟨h⟩, ⟨ā⟩ usually before stops and ⟨s⟩, and ⟨abs⟩ (rare) before ⟨t⟩ and ⟨c⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is [[inh|itc-pro|*ap|t=away, off]], [[inh|ine-pro|*h₂ep-]].^(de Vaan 2008)
+
+ Cognate with [[grc|ἀπό|tr=apó]], [[sa|अप|tr=ápa|t=away, off]] and [[got|𐌰𐍆|tr=af]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ ''Ab'' is found in the epitaphs of the Scipios and in Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It shares the senses of ''ab'': motion away from a place, distance and separation, and, with passive verbs, the agent (“by”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Preposition===
+ # ''(with ablative, before consonants)'' [[m|en|from]], away from;^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''(with passive verbs)'' [[m|en|by]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[absque]]
+
+ {{homograph|2|ah}}
+
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''ā''' ^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ The interjection is expressive, a natural cry.^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) It is also written ⟨ah⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ It is found in Plautus, as ''ā! nē flē'' “ah, don't cry!”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It expresses distress, pity or regret, an appeal (''ā, nē dī sīverint!'' “ah, the gods forbid!”), surprise or joy, objection, and contempt.^(OLD 2012) Virgil uses it in an appeal in the ''Georgics''.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for distress and entreaty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 220–130 BC – Pacuvius: ''ah! cēpistī mē istōc verbō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil: ''ā, nimium nē sit mihi fertilis illa''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Interjection===
+ # [[m|en|ah]]! (of distress, pity or regret).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # Ah! (in entreaty or objection).^(OLD 2012)
+ # Ah! (of surprise or joy; of contempt).^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[ab]]
+ * [[ah]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ ''A'' is also the first letter of the alphabet; it was sometimes doubled to show a long vowel, and as an abbreviation it stands for the first name Aulus.^(OLD 2012) Isidore of Seville explains that it comes first among letters in every nation because it is the first sound newborn children make.^(TLL)
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}