alpha English · revision 6614

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=phn}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæl.fə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|alpha]], from [[grc|ἄλφα|tr=álpha]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from a Phoenician word akin to [[he|אָלֶף|tr=ʾālep̄|t=ox]], the name of the first letter (see [[aleph]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The Greeks added -a because Greek words cannot end in most consonants.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first letter of the Greek alphabet: probably about 1200, in the ''Ormulum'', in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1300 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The beginning of anything, often paired with [[omega]] as ''the alpha and omega'', is from the late 14th century, 1382 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) First in a series is from the 1620s.^(Etymonline) In astronomy alpha marks the brightest star of a constellation, a use beginning with Bayer's atlas (1603).^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) Alpha radiation is from 1899.^(OED 1989) In Britain alpha is a top mark in an examination.^(Collins 2023) The ''alpha male'' was used by about 1960 by scientists studying animals, and of humans from about 1992.^(Etymonline) An early test version of software is an alpha, from 1955 in MWU.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – the Greek letter.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1382 – the beginning; alpha and omega.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1603 – in star names, from Bayer.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1899 – alpha radiation.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1960 – alpha male.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The first letter of the Greek [[alphabet]] (Α, α).^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The first of anything; the beginning.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' The brightest star in a [[constellation]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British)'' The highest grade in an examination.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dominant in a group: ''an alpha male''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of or relating to [[alpha particle|alt=alpha particles]] or alpha radiation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Alpha Centauri]]

+ * [[alpha test]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alphabet]]

+ * [[aleph]]

+ * [[beta]]

+ * [[omega]]

+ * [[alphanumeric]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}