an
1[ uhn; when stressed an ]
/ ən; when stressed æn /
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indefinite article
the form of a before an initial vowel sound (an arch; an honor) and sometimes, especially in British English, before an initial unstressed syllable beginning with a silent or weakly pronounced h: an historian.
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Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of an
1before 950; Middle English; Old English ānone in a weakened sense
grammar notes for an
See a1.
Other definitions for an (2 of 11)
Origin of an
2First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, unstressed phonetic variant of and
Other definitions for an (3 of 11)
An
[ ahn ]
/ ɑn /
noun
the Sumerian god of heaven: the counterpart of the Akkadian Anu.
Other definitions for an (4 of 11)
An
Symbol, Chemistry.
actinon.
Other definitions for an (5 of 11)
Other definitions for an (6 of 11)
an-1
a prefix occurring before stems beginning with a vowel or h in loanwords from Greek, where it means “not,” “without,” “lacking” (anarchy; anecdote); used in the formation of compound words: anelectric.
Also before a consonant, a-.
Other definitions for an (7 of 11)
Other definitions for an (8 of 11)
Other definitions for an (9 of 11)
-an
a suffix occurring originally in adjectives borrowed from Latin, formed from nouns denoting places (Roman; urban) or persons (Augustan), and now productively forming English adjectives by extension of the Latin pattern. Attached to geographic names, it denotes provenance or membership (American; Chicagoan; Tibetan), the latter sense now extended to membership in social classes, religious denominations, etc., in adjectives formed from various kinds of noun bases (Episcopalian; pedestrian; Puritan; Republican) and membership in zoological taxa (acanthocephalan; crustacean). Attached to personal names, it has the additional senses “contemporary with” (Elizabethan; Jacobean) or “proponent of” (Hegelian; Freudian) the person specified by the noun base. The suffix -an, and its variant -ian also occurs in a set of personal nouns, mainly loanwords from French, denoting one who engages in, practices, or works with the referent of the base noun (comedian; grammarian; historian; theologian); this usage is especially productive with nouns ending in -ic (electrician; logician; technician). See -ian for relative distribution with that suffix.
Origin of -an
Middle English <Latin -ānus, -āna, -ānum; in some words replacing -ain, -en<Old French <Latin
Other definitions for an (10 of 11)
an.
abbreviation
in the year.
Origin of an.
From the Latin word annō
Other definitions for an (11 of 11)
A.N.
abbreviation
Anglo-Norman.
Associate in Nursing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use an in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for an (1 of 8)
an1
/ (æn, unstressed ən) /
determiner
a form of the indefinite article used before an initial vowel soundan old car; an elf; an honour
Word Origin for an
Old English ān one
usage for an
An was formerly often used before words that begin with h and are unstressed on the first syllable: an hotel; an historic meeting . Sometimes the initial h was not pronounced. This usage is now becoming obsolete
British Dictionary definitions for an (2 of 8)
an2
an'
/ (æn, unstressed ən) /
conjunction
(subordinating) an obsolete or dialect word for if See and (def. 9)
British Dictionary definitions for an (3 of 8)
an3
the internet domain name for
Netherlands Antilles
British Dictionary definitions for an (4 of 8)
An1
/ (ɑːn) /
noun
myth the Sumerian sky godBabylonian counterpart: Anu
British Dictionary definitions for an (5 of 8)
An2
the chemical symbol for
actinon
British Dictionary definitions for an (6 of 8)
AN
abbreviation for
Anglo-Norman
British Dictionary definitions for an (7 of 8)
an-
before a consonant a-
prefix
not; withoutanaphrodisiac
Word Origin for an-
from Greek
British Dictionary definitions for an (8 of 8)
-an
-ean or -ian
suffix
(forming adjectives and nouns) belonging to or relating to; a person belonging to or coming fromEuropean
(forming adjectives and nouns) typical of or resembling; a person typical ofElizabethan
(forming adjectives and nouns) adhering to or following; an adherent ofChristian
(forming nouns) a person who specializes or is expert indietitian; phonetician
Word Origin for -an
from Latin -ānus, suffix of adjectives
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