alpha Latin · revision 9348

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Martial|origins=phn 𐤀𐤋𐤐}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈaɫ.pʰa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈal.fa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''alpha''' ''n'' (indeclinable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἄλφα|tr=álpha]], the name of the first letter, from Hebrew or [[phn|𐤀𐤋𐤐|tr=ʾālep]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)^(Köbler 2010) Etymonline notes that the Greeks added ⟨-a⟩ because Greek words cannot end in most consonants.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Martial, whom he dates 40–102/103 AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ In the Vulgate Apocalypse God is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) British Medieval Latin used it for the first letter and for a beginning.^(DMLBS) [[en|alpha]] is recorded about 1300; the sense “beginning” is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''alpha'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|alpha|alt=Alpha]], the first letter of the Greek alphabet.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The beginning; with ''omega'', God.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bēta]]

+ * [[en|alpha]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}