an

an

1. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Aragonese.

• (stressed)
  • IPA^(key): /ˈæn/

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -æn
  • IPA^(key): [ˈɛən]

  • Audio (US), æ-tensing

    (file)

• (unstressed)
  • IPA^(key): /ən/

  • Audio (US), unstressed in the phrase "an egg"

    (file)

• Homophone: in (in some accents)

From Middle English an, from Old English ān (“a, an”, literally “one”). More at one.

an (indefinite)

1. Form of a (all article senses).
   1. Used before a vowel sound.

      I'll be there in half an hour.

      • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

        Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.

      • 1971, Lyndon Johnson, “The Beginning”, in The Vantage Point‎, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 12:

        I was catapulted without preparation into the most difficult job any mortal man can hold. My duties would not wait a week, or a day, or even an hour.

   2. (now quite rare) Used before one and words with initial u, eu when pronounced /ju/.
      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 24:8:

        God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

      • (Can we date this quote?), John Mackay Wilson, Wilson's Tales of the Borders; Historical, Traditionary, and Imaginative‎, →OCLC, page 84:

        My hopes, from my earliest years, have been hopes of celebrity as a writer- not of wealth, or of influence, or of accomplishing any of the thousand aims which furnish the great bulk of mankind with motives. You will laugh at me. There is something so emphatically shadowy and unreal in the object of this ambition, that even the full attainment of its provokes a smile. For who does not know
        'How vain that second life in others' breath,
        The estate which wits inherit after death!'
        And what can be more fraught with the ludicrous than an union of this shadowy ambition with mediocre parts and attainments! But I digress.

      • 2010 March 22, Paul Taylor, “Greece Debates Revive Old European Fears and Resentments”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2010-04-03, Inside Europe:

        President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is open to an European monetary fund but would want it to raise money cheaply on capital markets and lend it to needy euro-zone countries before they faced possible default.

      • 2021 April 13, Neil Vigdor, “Hank Aaron’s Name Will Replace a Confederate General’s on an Atlanta School”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on April 14, 2021, U.S.‎:

        In an unanimous vote on Monday, the city’s school board approved removing the name of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest from Forrest Hill Academy and calling the alternative school the Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy.

      • 2024 February 14, Lawrence O'Donnell, 0:29 from the start, in Lawrence: Jack Smith asks SCOTUS to move fast on Trump. Nixon case is proof they can.‎, MSNBC, archived from the original on February 15, 2024:

        Having been given seven full days, Jack Smith took exactly one day to file a forty-page response in opposition, to the Supreme Court, making the argument that there was no reason for the Supreme Court to hear Donald Trump's appeal of an unanimous opinion by the second most important court in the country, the Washington, D.C. Federal Court of Appeals, which supported the trial judge's ruling that there is no such thing as immunity from criminal prosecution for former presidents.

      • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:an.
   3. (nonstandard) Used before /h/ in a stressed or unstressed syllable.
      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 40:1–2:

        1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined vnto me, and heard my crie.
        2 He brought me vp also out of an horrible pit, out of the mirie clay, and set my feete vpon a rock, and established my goings.

      • 1693, Robert Morden, “Of China”, in Geography Rectified; or a Description of the World‎, 3rd edition, →OCLC, page 441:

        The Province of Nanking, by the Tartars called Kiangnan, is the ſecond in honour, in magnitude and fertility in all China : It is divided into 14 great Territories, having Cities and Towns an hundred and ten; Nanking, or Kiangning being the Metropolis; a City, that if ſhe did not exceed moſt Cities on the Earth in bigneſs and beauty, yet ſhe was inferior to few, for her Pagodes, her Temples, her Porcelane Towers, her Palaces and Triumphal Arches. Fungiang, Sucheu, Sunkiang, Leucheu, Hoaigan, Ganking, Ningue, Hoeicheu, are alſo eminent places, and of great Note and Trade.

      • 1953, Mao Tse-tung, “Mao Tse-tung's Tribute to Stalin”, in Current Soviet Policies‎, New York: Frederick A. Praeger, →ISSN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 254:

        Following the doctrine of Lenin and Stalin, relying on the support of the great Soviet state and all the revolutionary forces of all countries, the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people gained an historic victory a few years ago.

      • 1972 May 28, 3:30 from the start, in President Nixon addresses the Soviet People live from the Kremlin‎, spoken by Richard Nixon, archived from the original on 22 December 2015:

        We have agreed on joint ventures in space. We have agreed on ways of working together to protect the environment, to advance health, to cooperate in science and technology. We have agreed on means of preventing incidents at sea. We have established a commission to expand trade between our two nations. Most important, we have taken an historic first step in the limitation of nuclear strategic arms.

      • 2022 June 29, David Pakman, 0:00 from the start, in Trump Assaulted Secret Service Agent, Smeared Ketchup on Wall‎, archived from the original on 30 June 2022:

        Well yesterday was an historic day. Uh, there was last minute testimony scheduled in the January 6th committee from a former aide to Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows.

   4. (nonstandard, British, West Country) Used before all consonants.

• In standard English, the article an is used before vowel sounds, while a is used before consonant sounds. Alternatively, an can be found before an unstressed syllable beginning with an h-sound, as in an historic. The h may then become silent or is at least very weakly articulated. This usage is favoured by only 6% of British speakers, and is only slightly more common in writing.[1]
• Historically, an could also be found before one and before many words with initial u, eu (now pronounced with initial /juː/, /jʊ/, /jə/), such as eunuch, unique, and utility. This is because those initial letters were pronounced as vowels. In writing, an remained usual before such words until the 19th century -- long after these words acquired initial consonant sounds in standard English. This is still occasionally seen.[2]
• In the other direction, a occurs before a vowel, rarely, in nonstandard (often dialectal) speech and in its written representations. Example: "ain't this a innerestin sitchation" (Moira Young, Blood Red Road).
• The various article senses of a are all senses of an.

an

1. (nonstandard, British, West Country) one

From Middle English an (“and, if”).

an

1. (archaic) If
   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

     […] An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.

   • 1885–1888, Richard F[rancis] Burton, transl. and editor, Supplemental Nights to the Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night […], Shammar edition, volume (please specify the volume), [London]: […] Burton Club […], →OCLC:

     Thereupon, quoth he, "O woman, for sundry days I have seen thee attend the levée sans a word said; so tell me an thou have any requirement I may grant."

2. (archaic) So long as.

   An it harm none, do what ye will.

3. (archaic) As if; as though.
   • 1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC:
     (original version), lines 61–64:

     At length did cross an Albatross,
     Thorough the Fog it came;
     And an it were a Christian Soul,
     We hail'd it in God's Name.

Borrowed from Georgian ან (an).

an (plural ans)

1. The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri).

From the Old English an, on (preposition).

an

1. In each; to or for each; per.

   I was only going twenty miles an hour.

• This is the same as the word a in such contexts, modified because of preceding a vowel sound (after an unpronounced h). The train was speeding along at a mile a minute.

• per

• “an”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

• N.A., N/A, NA, n.a., n/a, na

• IPA^(key): /an/

an

1. (Western Cape) Alternative form of aan

Similar to Japanese ある (aru).

• IPA^(key): /an/

an (Kana spelling アン)

1. (intransitive, copulative) to exist, be (somewhere); there is

   Aynu an ruwe ne.

   There is an Ainu.

• ne (“to be”)

Possibly a metaphorical use of anë (“vessel”).

an m (definite ani)

1. (anatomy) womb, caul

   Synonym: mitër

2. (anatomy) joint
3. (dialectal) room, vessel
4. (dialectal, Arbëresh) ship

• anë

an

1. haunch

From Latin annus. Compare Romanian an.

• IPA^(key): [an]

an n (plural anj or enj)

1. year

• antsãrtsu / antserts

From a contraction of the preposition en (“in”) + preposition a (“to”).

an

1. (optional) towards inside

   Voi an ca Catuxa

   I'm going inside Catuxa's house

   Voi p'an ca Xepe

   I'm going to Xepe's house

From Arabic آن (ʔān).

• IPA^(key): /ɑn/

• Audio (Baku)

  (file)

an (definite accusative anı, plural anlar)

1. moment

• hər anda
• anlıq

• IPA^(key): [án]

an

1. we

• ang

• IPA^(key): /ʔan/, [ʔan̪]

From Proto-Central Philippine *aŋ. Cognate with Cebuano ang, Hiligaynon ang, Tagalog ang, Waray-Waray an.

Further etymology is debated; some have theorized a relationship to Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *a (“direct marker”), from Proto-Austronesian *a (“direct marker”) with the addition of an unclear nasal suffix. Compare Kapampangan ing.

an (Basahan spelling ᜀᜈ᜔)

1. direct marker for all general nouns other than personal proper nouns

   Nagdalagan an lalaki pasiring sa baybayon.

   The man ran towards the shore.

   Kinakan kan ikos an sira. (Naga)

   Kinaon kan ikos an sira. (Legazpi)

   The cat ate the fish.

• This particle is analyzed as the definite article (i.e., the) when used alone, and the indefinite article (i.e., a or an) when used with the numeral "saro".

  An saldang. (Naga)

  An aldaw. (Legazpi)

  The sun.

  An sarong tawo.

  A person.

• Specific nouns are marked with "si" or "su".
• Direct personal proper nouns (primarily names) are marked with "si".

'an (Basahan spelling ᜀᜈ᜔)

1. Clipping of iyan.

From Latin annus.

an m (plural ans)

1. year

From Latin in.

an

1. in

From Latin inde.

an

1. used to indicate an indefinite quantity, of it, of them

   J'an veus deus

   I want two of them

   J'an seus seur

   I am sure of it

• ar
• al

an

1. the

an

1. third person singular possessive; his, hers, its (used with general-class objects)

an

1. path, road

• a (Luserna)

From Middle High German ein, from Old High German ein, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz. Cognate with German ein, Dutch een, English one, Icelandic einn.

an

1. (Sette Comuni) a, an

   an gamègalndar mann ― a married man

2. (Luserna) oblique masculine of a

   I hån an pruadar un a sbestar. ― I have a brother and a sister.

• vònname
• vònnara

an

1. (Sette Comuni) that (introduces a subordinate clause)

   Khömme an dar sbaighe.

   Tell him that he needs to shut up.

• “an” in Martalar, Umberto Martello, Bellotto, Alfonso (1974) Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo
• Patuzzi, Umberto, ed., (2013) Luserna / Lusérn: Le nostre parole / Ünsarne börtar / Unsere Wörter [Our Words], Luserna, Italy: Comitato unitario delle isole linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien

From Proto-Celtic *sindos.

an

1. the (definite article)

Ultimately from Arabic آن (ʔān).

an

1. moment

• Mirjejev, V. A., Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎, Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

Inherited from Old Czech an. By surface analysis, univerbation of a +‎ on.

• IPA^(key): [ˈan]

an

1. (relative, archaic) which, who, as

   Synonyms: který, jenž, jak, když

   Bělá se tam, bělá žena, ana malé dítě nese. ― A white form can be seen there, a white woman who is carrying a child.

   Vidíš-li poutníka, an dlouhou lučinou spěchá ku cíli, než červánky pohynou? ― Do you see a traveller hastening ere the twilight passes away across the long meadows towards a destination?

an

1. (archaic) when, while

   An tak mluvili, ruce se jim chvěly. ― As they were speaking, their hands quivered.

2. (archaic) because

   Ulehčilo se mi, an jsem byla uspokojena, že sama trpím. ― I was relieved, for it satisfied me that I myself do suffer.

• an in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• an in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

Borrowed from Middle Low German an and German an, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), cognate with English on and doublet of Danish å, Danish på.

• IPA^(key): [ˈan]

an

1. on (only used in lexicalized expressions)

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

• IPA^(key): [ˈæˀn]

an

1. imperative of ane

an

1. Manuel de Codage transliteration of ꜥn.

From Old Norse hann. Cognate with Swedish han.

an m

1. he

From Latin annus.

an m

1. year

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.

an

1. to eat

• Drabbe, Peter (1932). Woordenboek der Fordaatsche Taal. Bandoeng: A.C. Nix & Co., p. 9.

Inherited from Latin annus.

an m (plural ans) (ORB)

1. year

• anâ

• an in DicoFranPro: Dictionnaire Français/Francoprovençal – on dicofranpro.llm.umontreal.ca
• an in Lo trèsor Arpitan – on arpitan.eu

From Old French, from Latin annus, from Proto-Italic *atnos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂et-no-, probably from *h₂et- (“to go”).

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃/

• audio

  (file)

• Homophone: en

an m (plural ans)

1. year

• année

• “an”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

• n’a

From Latin annus.

an m (plural agns)

1. year

an (singular)

1. (possessive) Alternative form of am (my).

• Used in Pular.

an

1. second person singular emphatic pronoun you

• Used in Pular.

• aan (Pulaar)

• Oumar Bah, Dictionnaire Pular-Français, Avec un index français-pular, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2014.
• Ritsuko Miyamoto (1993) “A Study of Fula Dialects : Examining the Continuous/Stative Constructions”, in Senri Ethnological Studies‎, volume 35, →DOI, pages 215-230

an (plural aning)

1. man

• Robert L. Bradshaw, Fuyug grammar sketch (2007)

From Old High German ana.

• IPA^(key): /an/, [ʔan]

  • Audio

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -an
• A lengthened form /aːn/ is possible in non-prepositional uses, e.g. in the prefix an- or the adverb daran. This was formerly widespread, but is now chiefly restricted to Austria and Switzerland (where it is optional). Compare similarly the distinction between in and ein-.

an (+ dative)

1. (local) on; upon; at; in; against

   Das Bild hängt an der Wand. ― The picture hangs on the wall.

2. by; near; close to; next to
3. (temporal, with days or times of day) on; in; at

   Wir treffen uns am (an dem) Dienstag.

   We're meeting on Tuesday.

   Ich werde sie am (an dem) Abend sehen.

   I will see her in the evening.

4. (temporal) a; per; only used with the word Tag (“day”), otherwise use in

   zweimal am Tag ― twice a day

an (+ accusative)

1. on; onto

   Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. ― I hang the picture on the wall.

2. at; against

   Schauen Sie an die Tafel. ― Look at the blackboard.

3. to; for

   Ein Brief an Anna. ― A letter for Anna.

an (+ dative or accusative)

1. (any relation to an object or attribute regardless of time and space) of, on, in, for, about

   an einem Roman schreiben ― to write on a novel

   Mangel an Lebensmitteln ― lack of food

   Alle Menschen sind frei und gleich an Würde und Rechten geboren ― All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

   Er ist schuld an dem Unglück ― He is responsible for the misfortune

   Das mag ich nicht an ihm ― I don't like that about him

• Usually used to refer to something being on a vertical surface, as opposed to auf, which usually points to a horizontal surface.
• When followed by the masculine/neuter definite article in the dative case (i.e. dem (“the”)), the two words generally contract to am (“on the”) if not emphasized.
• When followed by the neuter definite article in the accusative case (i.e. das (“the”)), the two words generally contract to ans (“on the”) if not emphasized.

an

1. onward; on

   von heute an ― from today on

an (indeclinable, predicative only)

1. (predicative only) on

   Synonyms: angeschaltet, ein, eingeschaltet

   Antonyms: aus, ausgeschaltet

   Ist der Schalter an oder aus? [= Ist der Schalter an- oder ausgeschaltet?]

   Is the switch on or off. [Is the switch switched on or off.]

Indeclinable, predicative-only.

• (an + dem) am
• (an + das) ans
• anhin
• wohlan, wolan

• na

an

1. water

• Patricia Lillie, Girawa Dictionary

an

1. Romanization of 𐌰𐌽

• IPA^(key): /ã/

From French un.

an

1. the (definite article)

Use this word when:

• It modifies a singular noun, and
• It is preceded by a word that ends with either:
  • A nasal vowel, or
  • A nasal consonant and an oral (non-nasal) vowel, in that order.

From French an (“year”).

an

1. year

• lane

Borrowed from English on, German an. Decision no. 759, Progreso V.

• IPA^(key): /an/

an

1. at, on (indicates contiguity, juxtaposition)

   Me pendis pikturi an la parieto. ― I hung paintings on the wall.

• dorso an dorso (“back to back”)
• an-

• Progreso IV (in Ido), 1911–1912, page 409, 523, 591, 622
• Progreso V (in Ido), 1912–1913, page 659

From Old Irish in, from Proto-Celtic *sindos.

• IPA^(key): /ənˠ/, (between consonants) /ə/, (before a/á, o/ó, u/ú) /ə.n̪ˠ-/, (before e/é, i/í) /ə.n̠ʲ-/

an

1. the

   an t-uisce ― the water

   an bhean ― the woman

   an pháiste ― of the child

   ag an gcailín/chailín ― at the girl

From Old Irish in.

• (preverbal particle): IPA^(key): (before a consonant) /ə/, (before a/á, o/ó, u/ú) /ə.nˠ-/, (before e/é, i/í) /ə.n̠ʲ-/
• (copular particle): IPA^(key): /ənˠ/, (before é, ea, í, iad) /ə.n̠ʲ-/

an (triggers eclipsis; takes the dependent form of irregular verbs if available; not used in the past tense except of some irregular verbs)

1. Used to form direct and indirect questions

   An bhfuil tú ag éisteacht? ― Are you listening?

   Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil sé anseo. ― I don’t know if/whether he is here.

• ar (used with the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)

an

1. used to introduce copular questions, both direct and indirect, in the present/future tense

   An maith leat bainne? ― Do you like milk?

   Níl a fhios agam an é Conchúr a chonaic mé. ― I don’t know if it’s Connor whom I saw.

an (present analytic anann, future analytic anfaidh, verbal noun anacht, past participle anta)

1. (transitive, intransitive) Alternative form of fan (“stay, wait, remain”)

an

1. Alternative form of a (used before numbers when counting)

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “an”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “in”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Entries containing “an” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “an” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

Derived from English hand.

an (plural an dem, quantified an)

1. hand
   • 2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Maak 3:5:

     So im se tu di man se, “Chrech out yu an.” Di man chrech out im an, an im an get beta.

     Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held out his hand, and his hand was healed.

Derived from English and.

an

1. and
   • 2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Aks 15:35:

     Bot Paal an Baanabas tan a Antiyak an tiich an priich Gad wod. An nof muor tiicha an priicha did iina di choch.

     But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, and taught and proclaimed the word of God along with many others.

• an at majstro.com

an

1. Rōmaji transcription of あん

• The nasal vowel IPA^(key): /ã/

an (upper case An)

1. A letter of the Juǀ'hoan alphabet, written in the Latin script.

an

1. Rōmaji transcription of あん

From Latin annus.

an m (plural ani)

1. year

From Proto-Italic *an, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en. Cognate with Lithuanian angu (“or”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽 (an, “so? now?”). May also be related to Ancient Greek ἄν (án, particle), Sanskrit अना (anā́), Avestan 𐬀𐬥𐬁 (anā), Lithuanian anàs, Albanian a, Proto-Slavic *onъ.[1]

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /an/, [än]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /an/, [än]

an

1. or, or whether (A conjunction that introduces the second part of a disjunctive interrogation, or a phrase implying doubt.)
   1. in disjunctive interrogations
      1. direct
         1. (introduced by utrum (“whether”))
         2. (introduced by -ne (interrogative enclitic))
         3. (introduced by nonne (“[is it] not”))
         4. (introduced by num (interrogative particle))
         5. (without an introductory particle)
      2. indirect
         1. (introduced by utrum (“whether”))
         2. (introduced by -ne, interrogative enclitic)
         3. (introduced by an)
         4. (without an introductory particle)
      3. or rather, or on the contrary (where the opinion of the speaker or the probability inclines to the second interrogative clause, and this is made emphatic, as a corrective of the former)
         1. hence, in the comic poets, as an potius
      4. or, or rather, or indeed, or perhaps (where, as is frequent, the first part of the interrogation is not expressed, but is to be supplied from the context, an begins the interrogation, but it does not begin an absolute – i.e., non-disjunctive – interrogation)
      5. (in the phrase an nōn) or not
         1. in direct questions
         2. in indirect questions
      6. (in the phrase an ne) pleonastic usage for an
         1. in direct questions
         2. in indirect questions
   2. (in disjunctive clauses that express doubt) or
      1.  ?
      2. denoting uncertainty by itself, without a verb of doubting
      3. (chiefly in and after the Augustean period) standing for sīve
      4. where the first disjunctive clause is to be supplied from the general idea or where an stands for utrum or necne
      5. Since in such distributive sentences expressive of doubt, the opinion of the speaker or the probability usually inclines to the second, i.e. to the clause beginning with an, the expressions haud sciō an, nesciō an, and dubitō an incline to an affirmative signification, “I almost know”, “I am inclined to think”, “I almost think”, “I might say”, “I might assert that”, etc., for “perhaps”, “probably”.
      6. Sometimes the distributive clause beginning with an designates directly the opposite, the more improbable, the negative; in which case nesciō an, haud sciō an, etc., like the English I know not whether, signify “I think that not”, “I believe that not”, etc.

• Used with utrum (“whether”) in the construction utrum...an (“whether...or”):

  Nescio quid intersit, utrum nunc veniam, an ad decem annos.

  I know not what matter it is, whether I come now or after ten years.

• ăn in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• an in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎, London: Macmillan and Co.
  • to offer a person the alternative of... or..: optionem alicui dare, utrum...an
    
  • it is a debated point whether... or..: in contentione ponitur, utrum...an
    
  • it is a difficult point, disputed question: magna quaestio est (followed by an indirect question)
    
  • to keep, celebrate a festival: diem festum agere (of an individual)
    

an

1. fresh water

• Malcolm Ross, Andrew Pawley, Meredith Osmond, The Lexicon of Proto-Oceanic →ISBN, 2007)
• Blust's Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (as ʔan)

From Middle Low German an, from Old Saxon an, ana, from Proto-Germanic *an, *ana.

• Rhymes: -an
• IPA^(key): /an/, /aːn/, /ɒːn/, /ɔːn/

an

1. on
2. to, at

Neither the spelling nor grammar of these forms applies to all, or even necessarily the majority, of dialects.

an

1. on

• an't

• IPA^(key): /an/, [ɑn]
• Rhymes: -ɑn

From Old High German indi.

an

1. and

From Proto-Germanic *in.

an

1. in

an

1. Nonstandard spelling of ān.
2. Nonstandard spelling of án.
3. Nonstandard spelling of ǎn.
4. Nonstandard spelling of àn.

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

• IPA^(key): /an/

an

1. Alternative form of āne

• a, ane, o, on (see usage notes)

• IPA^(key): /a(n)/ (see usage notes)

An unstressed form of oon (“one”), from the occasional use of Old English ān (“one”) as an article.

an

1. a, an (indefinite article):
   • p. 1154, “AD 1137”, in Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (MS. Laud Misc. 636, continuation), Peterborough, folio 89, verso; republished at Oxford: Digital Bodleian, 2018 February 8:

     Þu myhteſ faren al a dæiſ fare ſculdeſt thu neure finden man in tun ſittende · ne land tiled.

     You could go a whole day's journey, but you'd never find anyone in town or any tilled fields.

   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Prologe of the Tale of the Wẏf of Bathe”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 63, verso, lines 438-440:

     And but ye do / c[er]teyn we shal yow teche / that it is fair / to han a wyf in pees / Oon of vs two / moſte bowen doutelees

     And unless you do, we'll certainly teach you / that it's fair to have a wife in peace; / one of the two of us must without doubt submit.

   1. Any example or instance of a thing.
   2. A certain or particular thing.
   3. Any, every; several or all instances of a thing.
2. Used in conjunction with numerals (especially hundred, thousend)

• In later non-Northern Middle English, a is usually found before consonants other than /h/, while an is usually found preceding vowels and /h/. However, an often occurs before any consonant in earlier Middle English.
• In early Middle English, the indefinite article is often omitted; occasional omission persists into later Middle English.
• Inflected forms of the indefinite article are sometimes found in early Middle English; see the inflection table below.

• English: an, a
• Scots: a
• Yola: a, e

• “a, indef. art.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

an

1. Alternative form of in

an

1. Alternative form of and

an

1. Alternative form of oon

an

1. Alternative form of haven

From Old French an, from Latin annus.

an m (plural ans)

1. year

• French: an

• IPA^(key): /ən/

an

1. Alternative form of yn

From Latin in.

an

1. in
2. on

an

1. oblique masculine of a

• van

• “an” in Cimbrian, Ladin, Mòcheno: Getting to know 3 peoples. 2015. Servizio minoranze linguistiche locali della Provincia autonoma di Trento, Trento, Italy.

From Old French an, from Latin annus.

• Audio (Jersey)

  (file)

an m (plural ans)

1. (Guernsey, Jersey) year

• année

• Jour dé l'An (“New Year's Day”)
• Nouvel An (“New Year”)
• tchu d'l'an (“last day of the year”)

Confer Persian یا (yâ).

• IPA^(key): /ɑːn/

an (Arabic spelling ئان)

1. or

   Synonym: (after a word ending in a vowel) yan

• Chyet, Michael L. (2020) “an”, in Ferhenga Birûskî: Kurmanji–English Dictionary (Language Series; 2), volume 2, London: Transnational Press, page 8

• IPA^(key): /ɑːn/

• Audio

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːn
• Hyphenation: an

an

1. imperative of ane

• Na, na

• Audio (Béarn)

  (file)

From Old Occitan an, from Latin annus.

an m (plural ans)

1. year

• Also used with the verb aver (“to have”) to indicate age

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

an

1. third-person plural present indicative of aver

an

1. Rōmaji transcription of あん

Univerbation of a +‎ on.

• IPA^(key): (13^th CE) /ˈan/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ˈan/

an

1. connects clauses; and that/he
2. connects contrastive clauses; but that/he
3. introduces a temporal clause of recency; as he just (was)

• Jan Gebauer (1903–1916) “an”, in Slovník staročeský (in Czech), Prague: Česká grafická společnost "unie", Česká akademie císaře Františka Josefa pro vědy, slovesnost a umění

From Proto-West Germanic *ain, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz.

Germanic cognates include Old Frisian ān, Old Saxon ēn, Old High German ein, Old Norse einn, Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (ains). The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin ūnus, Ancient Greek οἶος (oîos), Old Irish oen.

• IPA^(key): /ɔːn/

ān

1. one
   • "Gospel of Saint John", chapter 10, verse 30

     Ic and Fæder synt ān.

     I and Father are one.

   • c. 973, Æthelwold's translation of the Rule of Saint Benedict, quoting Galatians 3:28

     Ġe þēo ġe frēo, eall wē sind on Criste ān.

     Slave or free, we are all one in Christ.

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 14:37

     Þā cōm hē and fand hīe slǣpende, and cwæþ tō Petre, "Simon, slǣpst þū? Ne meahtest þū āne tīd wacian?"

     Then he came and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour?"

   • early 12th century, the Peterborough Chronicle, year 1100

     On morgen æfter Hlāfmæssedæġe wearþ sē cyning Willelm on huntoþe fram his ānum menn mid āne flāne ofsċoten.

     On the morning after Lammas day, King William was out hunting when he was shot with an arrow by one of his servants.

ān

1. a; an (indefinite article)

ān

1. only

   Ne bēoþ wē ġeboren ūs selfum ānum.

   We aren't born for ourselves alone.

   Mæġ man sprecan be rīmum ġif þing ān sind?

   Can we speak of numbers if there are only things?

   • 11th century, Durham Proverbs, no. 22

     Earg mæġ þæt ān þæt hē him ondrǣde.

     A coward can only do one thing: fear.

   • c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English

     Āne twā word sind þǣre fēorðan ġeþīednesse: eō ("iċ gange"), īs ("þū gǣst"); queō ("iċ mæġ"), quīs ("þū meaht").

     Only two words follow the fourth declension: eo ("I go"), is ("you go"); queo ("I can"), quis ("you can").

   • c. 990, Wessex Gospels, John 5:18

     Þæs þe mā þā Iudēiscan sōhton hine tō ofslēanne, næs nā for þon āne þe hē þone ræstedæġ bræc, ac for þon þe hē cwæþ þæt God wǣre his fæder, and hine selfne dyde Gode ġelīcne.

     That made the Jews try even harder to kill him, not just for breaking the Sabbath, but for saying God was his father, and making himself equal to God.

   • c. 1000, "The Battle of Maldon", lines 94-95

     God āna wāt hwā þǣre wælstōwe wealdan mōte.

     Only God knows who is destined to control the battlefield.

   • "The Fortunes of Men", lines 8-9

     God āna wāt hwæt him weaxendum wintra bringaþ.

     God only knows what the years will bring to the growing child.

2. alone

   Neart þū ġenōg eald þæt þū āna on sund gā.

   You're not old enough to go swimming by yourself.

   Iċ slǣpe āna.

   I sleep alone.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "St. Benedict, Abbot"

     Gang nū tō mynstre ġif þū mæġe, and mē āna forlǣt.

     Now go to the monastery if you can, and leave me alone.

   • c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English

     Foresetnessa ne bēoþ nāhwǣr āna, ac bēoþ ǣfre tō sumum ōðrum worde ġefēġeda.

     Prepositions never occur by themselves: they are always attached to some other word.

   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Paul the Apostle"

     Petrus āna spræc for ealne þone hēap.

     Peter by himself spoke for the whole group.

In the above senses ("only" and "alone"), this word was often used in the weak declension, often indeclinably as āna.