א־

Aramaic

Etymology

From עַל (ʿal), with the ל (l) assimilated onto the following consonant, and the ע (ʿ) respelled as א (ʾ) since they had merged in pronunciation in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic.

Preposition

אַ־ • (ʾa-)

1. Jewish Babylonian Aramaic form of עַל (ʿal)
   • a. 500 C.E., Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 2:1:

     והא וכן קתני אגויל וגזית

     But [the Mishnah] teaches “and thus”. [This is in fact] regarding “rough stone” and “smooth stone”.

Usage notes

• The following consonant is doubled.