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а1 and, but (conjunction)

Pronunciation

Etymology

The conjunction is inherited from Old East Slavic а (a, “and, but”), from Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”).[1][2] Old Church Slavonic а (a) renders Ancient Greek ἀλλά (allá) and δέ (dé); the word is Ukrainian а (a), Polish a, Serbo-Croatian а (a), Slovene a and Bulgarian а (a) in the same sense, while Czech a means “and”.[2] Vasmer relates it to an Old Indic adverb meaning “then, and” and to Avestan āat̰ (“then, and, but”); it takes no prothetic /j/ because it stands at the head of the clause.[2] It is one of the few Russian words with initial ⟨а⟩ that are neither loans nor onomatopoeic.[2]

Shaposhnikov takes it as a case form of the pronominal stem ⟨e/o⟩, from Proto-Indo-European *ēd or *ōd;[3] Wiktionary reconstructs *h₁ōd, presumed to be an ablative of the pronoun *éy, through Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō, and compares Lithuanian õ (“and, but”).[1] Another view, which Shaposhnikov also reports, derives the Slavic word from *ā (“or”), comparing Albanian o (“or”) and Ancient Greek ἤ (ḗ, “or”).[3]

In Russian it often combines with particles, as in абы, авось, али, ан and ась.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Izbornik of 1076 has it in a contrast: „Гл҃и къ б҃оу много. а къ человѣкомъ мало” “speak much to God, and little to men”.[4] The oldest dated quotation in the connective sense “and, moreover” is a scribe's note in a Menaion of 1097.[4]

Semantic evolution

SDRJa counts about 13,000 instances in Old Russian texts, connective (“and”), contrastive (“but”) and comparative;[4] Shaposhnikov gives the old senses “and”, “but” and “while”.[3] The Lay of Igor's Campaign has it 56 times, as in „Княземъ слава а дружинѣ!” “glory to the princes and to the retinue!”.[5] SlRJa XVIII lists connective uses that mark a sequence in time as well as contrastive ones.[6] Dal also records a conditional а “if, when”.[7]

Unlike но, which opposes, а usually marks a difference or a new point.[1] Russian lent it to Ingrian, Votic, Kildin Sami and Eastern Mari.[1]

Timeline

  • 1076 – а къ человѣкомъ мало “and little to men” in the Izbornik of 1076.[4]
  • 1097 – а “and” in a scribe's note in a Menaion.[4]
  • end of the 12th century – а 56 times in the Lay of Igor's Campaign.[5]
  • 1219 – а вноуцѣ всеволожи “and grandson of Vsevolod” in a scribe's note.[4]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. and, but, whereas: joins clauses or words that are contrasted or compared: я читаю, а он спит.[8][9][1]
  2. Adds a further point in a sequence, or an explanation, objection or change of subject: а что было потом?.[8][10]

Word family

  • абы
  • авось
  • али
  • ан
  • ась

а2 ah! (interjection)

Pronunciation

Etymology

The interjection “ah!” has its own etymology in Wiktionary, which compares Lithuanian à and oà, cries of pain or surprise, Gothic 𐍉 (ō, “ah!”), Latin ā and āh, cries of pain or anger, and Ancient Greek ἆ (â, “ah!”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

SlRJa XVIII quotes an 18th-century description: „А! Есть междометие восклицательное, изъявляющее радость” “А! is an exclamatory interjection expressing joy”, spoken with a cheerful face and wide-open eyes.[6]

Semantic evolution

In the 18th century it expressed joy at seeing someone, annoyance or indignation, gloating, and grief or despair.[6] The modern dictionaries give surprise or a sudden guess, irony and gloating, and annoyance or bitterness.[11][8]

Meanings

Interjection

  1. Expresses surprise or a sudden realization: а, так вот кто это!.[11][1]
  2. Expresses annoyance, bitterness or gloating.[8]
  3. (colloquial) Answers someone who calls; seeks confirmation, “eh?”.[10][1]
  • Old East Slavic а (a)

Usage notes

The letter is called а; its old name was Old Church Slavonic азъ (azŭ, “I”).[2] The prefix а- of асимметрия and аморальный is Greek.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 1, 55
  3. ^ a b c Shaposhnikov, A. K. (2010), Ètimologičeskij slovar' sovremennogo russkogo jazyka [Этимологический словарь современного русского языка], 2 vols., Moskva: Flinta / Nauka, p. 1, 12
  4. ^ a b c d e f Avanesov, R. I. et al. (eds.) (1988–), Slovar' drevnerusskogo jazyka (XI–XIV vv.) [Словарь древнерусского языка (XI–XIV вв.)], vols. 1–13, Moskva: Russkij jazyk / Azbukovnik, p. s.v. а
  5. ^ a b Vinogradova, V. L. (1965–1984), Slovar'-spravočnik «Slova o polku Igoreve» [Словарь-справочник «Слова о полку Игореве»], 6 vols., Moskva / Leningrad: Nauka, p. s.v. а
  6. ^ a b c Sorokin, Yu. S. et al. (eds.) (1984–), Slovar' russkogo jazyka XVIII veka [Словарь русского языка XVIII века], vols. 1–24, Leningrad / Sankt-Peterburg: Nauka, p. s.v. а
  7. ^ Dal', V. I. (1880–1882), Tolkovyj slovar' živago velikorusskago jazyka [Толковый словарь живаго великорусскаго языка], 2nd ed., 4 vols., Sankt-Peterburg / Moskva: M. O. Vol'f, p. s.v. а
  8. ^ a b c d Ozhegov, S. I.; Shvedova, N. Yu. (1997), Tolkovyj slovar' russkogo jazyka [Толковый словарь русского языка], 4th ed., Moskva: Azbukovnik, p. s.v. а
  9. ^ Evgen'eva, A. P. (ed.) (1981–1984), Slovar' russkogo jazyka v četyrex tomax [Словарь русского языка в 4 тт.] (MAS), 2nd ed., Moskva: Russkij jazyk, p. s.v. а
  10. ^ a b Efremova, T. F. (2000), Novyj slovar' russkogo jazyka. Tolkovo-slovoobrazovatel'nyj [Новый словарь русского языка. Толково-словообразовательный], 2 vols., Moskva: Russkij jazyk, p. s.v. а
  11. ^ a b Ushakov, D. N. (ed.) (1935–1940), Tolkovyj slovar' russkogo jazyka [Толковый словарь русского языка], 4 vols., Moskva: Sovetskaja ènciklopedija / OGIZ, p. s.v. а
  12. ^ Evgen'eva, A. P. (ed.) (1981–1984), Slovar' russkogo jazyka v četyrex tomax [Словарь русского языка в 4 тт.] (MAS), 2nd ed., Moskva: Russkij jazyk, p. s.v. а...