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|lshtext=<b>A</b>: a, indecl. n. ([[sometimes]] joined [[with]]<br /><b>I</b> [[littera]]), the [[first]] [[letter]] of the Latin [[alphabet]], [[corresponding]] to the a, α of the [[other]] Indo-. European languages: A [[primum]] est: [[hinc]] incipiam, et quae nomina ab hoc sunt, Lucil. ap. Terent. Scaur. p. 2255 P.: sus rostro si [[humi]] A litteram impresserit, Cic. Div. 1, 13, 23: ne in A [[quidem]] [[atque]] S litteras exire [[temere]] masculina Graeca nomina [[recto]] casu patiebantur, Quint. 1, 5, 61.<br /><b>II</b> The [[sound]] of the A is [[short]] or [[long]] in [[every]] [[part]] of the [[word]]; as, ăb, păter, ită; ā, māter, frustrā. During a [[short]] [[period]] ([[between]] [[about]] 620 and 670 A. U. C. = from 134 to 84 B.C.) [[long]] a [[was]] written aa, [[probably]] [[first]] by the [[poet]] L. [[Attius]], in the [[manner]] of the Oscan [[language]]; so we [[find]] in Latin inscriptions: AA. CETEREIS (i.e.a ceteris), CALAASI, FAATO, HAACE, MAARCIVM, PAAPVS, PAASTORES, VAARVS; and in Greek [[writing]], MAAPKOΨ> Ψ>IOΣ> MAAPKEAAOΣ>, KOINTON MAAPKION ([[like]] Osc. aasas = Lat. āra, Osc. Paapi = Lat. Pāpius, Osc. Paakul = Lat. Pāculus, Pācullus, Pācuvius, etc.), v. Ritschl, Monum. Epigr. p. 28 sq., and cf. Mommsen, Unterital. Dialekte, p. 210 sq. (The Umbrian [[language]] has [[gone]] a [[step]] [[farther]], and written [[long]] a by aha, as [[Aharna]], Naharcom, trahaf, etc.; cf. Aufrecht and Kirchhoff, Umbrische Sprachdenkm. p. 76 sq.) Vid. also the letters E and U.<br /><b>III</b> In etymological and grammatical [[formation]] of words, [[short]] a [[very]] [[often]] ([[sometimes]] also [[long]] a) is changed [[into]] [[other]] [[vowels]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> Short a is changed,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;, [[into]] [[long]] a—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>a</b> In [[consequence]] of the [[suppression]] of the [[following]] [[consonants]] at the [[end]] or in the [[middle]] of the [[word]]: ŭb, ā; vădis, vūs; ăg-, ăg-men, exāmen; tăg-, contūmino; căd-, cāsus. Hence also in the abl. [[sing]]. of the [[first]] decl., and in the particles [[derived]] from it. in [[consequence]] of the [[suppression]] of the [[original]] ablat. [[end]]. -d: PRAEDAD (Col. Rostr.), praedā; SENTENTIAD (S. C. de Bacch.), sententiā; EXTBAD (ib.), extrā; SVPRAD (ib.), suprā. —Hence,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> In [[perfect]] forms: scăb-o, scābi; căveo, cūvi; făv-eo, fāvi; păv-eo, pāvi (for scăbui, căvui, făvui, păvui).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>c</b> In [[other]] forms: ăgo, ambūges; păc-, păc-iscor, pâcis (pâx); săg-ax, sūgus, sāga; măc-er, mâcero; făg- ([[φαγεῖν]]>), fūgus. (Contrary to [[analogy]], ă [[remains]] [[short]] in dănunt, from dă-in-unt, V. Ritschl, l.l.p. 17.)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Short a is changed [[into]] é or ē—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>a</b> Into é. (a) Most [[frequently]] in the [[second]] [[part]] of compounds, [[particularly]] [[before]] [[two]] [[consonants]]: [[facio]], [[confectus]]; jacio, conjectus; [[rapio]], [[dereptus]]; dăm-, [[damno]], [[condemno]]; fāl-, [[fallo]], fefelli; măn-, [[mando]], [[commendo]]; [[scando]], [[ascendo]]; ăp-, [[aptus]], [[ineptus]]; ăr-, ars, [[iners]], [[sollers]]; ăn-, [[annus]], [[perennis]]; căpio, [[auceps]]; căput, [[triceps]]; ăgo, [[remex]]; jăcio, objex. And [[thus]] in [[Plautus]], according to the [[best]] MSS., [[dispenno]], [[dispessus]] from [[pando]], compectus from compăciscor, [[anteceptus]] from [[capio]] (on the [[other]] [[hand]], in Vergil, according to the [[best]] MS., aspurgo, attractare, deiractare, kept [[their]] a unchanged).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(b)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sometimes ă is changed [[into]] ĕ also [[before]] one consonant ([[but]] in this [[case]] it is [[usually]] changed [[into]] ĭ;<br /> v. [[infra]], 3. a. a.): grădior, ingrĕdior; pătior, perpĕtior; părio, repĕrio; păro, vitupĕro; ăp-, [[coepi]] (i. e. co-ŭpi); căno, tubicĕn, tibicĕn; in the reduplicated carcĕr (from carcar) farfŏrus (written also farfārus); and so, according to the [[better]] MSS., aequipĕro from păro, and defĕtigo from fătigo.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(g)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In words taken from the Greek: [[τάλαντον]]>, talŏntum; [[φάλαρα]]>, phalŏrae; [[σίσαρον]]>, sisŏr ([[but]], according to the [[best]] MSS., cumŭra from [[καμάρα]]>, not camŏra).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> Short a is changed to ē in [[some]] [[perfect]] forms: ăgo, ēgi; fūcio, féci; jăci, jĕci; frag-, [[frango]], frēgi; căpio, cēpi, and păg-, [[pango]], pēgi ([[together]] [[with]] pepĭgi and panxi, v. [[pango]]).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>3</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Short a is changed to ĭ, a ([[most]] [[frequently]] in the [[second]] [[part]] of compounds)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(a)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [[before]] one consonant: ăgo, abĭgo; făcio, confĭcio; cădo, concĭdo; sălio, assĭlio; răpio, abrĭpio; păter, Juppĭter (in Umbrian lang. unchanged, Jupater), Marspĭter; Diespĭter, Opĭter; rătus, irrĭtus; ămicus, inìmicus ([[but]] ŭ [[remains]] unchanged in adŭmo, impătiens, and in [[some]] compounds of a [[later]] [[period]] of Roman [[literature]], as praejacio, [[calefacio]], etc.). —<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(b)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sometimes also [[before]] [[two]] [[consonants]] ([[where]] it is [[usually]] changed [[into]] ĕ;<br /> v. [[supra]], 2. α. β.): tăg-, [[tango]], [[contingo]]; păg-, [[pango]], [[compingo]] (unchanged in [[some]] compounds, as [[peragro]], [[desacro]], [[depango]], obcanto, etc.).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> ă is changed [[into]] ĭ in the reduplicated [[perfect]] forms: cădo, cecĭdi; căno, cecĭni; tăg-, [[tango]], tetĭgi; păg-, [[pango]], pepĭgi.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>c</b> Likewise in [[some]] roots [[which]] [[have]] ă: păg-, [[pignus]]; străg- ([[strangulo]], [[στράγγω]]>), [[stringo]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>d</b> In words taken from the Greek: [[μηχανή]]>, machĭna; [[πατάνη]]>, patĭna; [[βυκάνη]]>, bucĭna; [[τρυτάνη]]>, trutĭna; [[βαλανεῖον]]>, balĭneum; Κατάνα, Catĭna (written also [[Catana]]); ‘Ακράγας, Agrĭgentum.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>4</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Short a is changed [[into]] [[short]] or [[long]] o.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>a</b> Into ŏ: scăbo, scobs; păr, [[pars]], [[portio]]; dăm-, dŏmo; Fabii, Fŏvii (v. Paul. ex Fest. p. 87); [[μάρμαρον]]>, marmŏr; [[Mars]], redupl. Marmar, Marmor (Carm. Fratr. Arv.).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> Into ō: dă-, dōnum, dōs; ăc-, ăcuo, ōcior (v. this [[art]].).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>5</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Short a is changed [[into]] ŭ—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>a</b> In the [[second]] [[part]] of compounds, [[particularly]] [[before]] l, p, and b: [[calco]], [[inculco]]; [[salsus]], [[insulsus]]; [[salto]], [[exsulto]]; [[capio]], occŭpo; răpio, surrupio and surruptus (also written [[surripio]] and [[surreptus]]); tăberna, contŭbernium; —[[before]] [[other]] [[consonants]]: quătio, conoŭtio; as, [[decussis]]; [[Mars]], Mamŭrius, Mamŭralia; and [[once]] also condumnari (Tab. Bant. lin. 8, [[immediately]] followed by condemnatus, v. Klenze, Philol. Abhandl. tab. I., and Mommsen, Unterital. Dial. p. 149).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> In words of Greek [[origin]]: ‘Εκάβη, Hecŭba; [[σκυτάλη]]>, scutŭla; [[κραιπάλη]]>, crapŭla; [[πάσσαλος]]>, pessŭlus; ᾶφλαστον, [[aplustre]]; [[θρίαμβος]]>, [[triumphus]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>c</b> ă is [[perhaps]] changed [[into]] ŭ in [[ulciscor]], compared [[with]] alc-, ὐλέξω (arc-, [[arceo]]).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> Long a is [[sometimes]] changed [[into]] ē or ō.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Into é: hālo, anhélo; fās-, féstus, profēstus; nām, némpe.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Into ō: gnā-, gnārus, ignārus, ignōro. (But in [[general]] [[long]] a [[remains]] unchanged in [[composition]]: lābor, delūbor; gnàvus, ignūnus; fàma, infūmis.)<br />Contrary to the [[mode]] of changing Greek α [[into]] Latin e, i, o, u (v. [[supra]]), Latin a has [[sometimes]] taken the [[place]] of [[other]] Greek [[vowels]] in words borrowed from the Greek, as: [[λόγχη]]>, [[lancea]]; [[κύλιξ]]>, călix; Γανυμηὀης, Caiāmitus.<br />The [[repugnance]] of the Latin Language to the Greek combined [[vowels]] αο has caused the translocation of [[them]] in [[Alumento]] for Δαομέὸων (Paul. ex Fest. p. 18 Müll.).— Greek α is suppressed in [[Hercules]] from ‘Ηρακλῆς ([[probably]] in [[consequence]] of the inserted u; in [[late]] Latin we [[find]] Heracla and Heracula, cf. Ritschl, in Rhein. Mus. Neue Folge, vol. 12, p. 108).<br />Latin ă [[was]] [[early]] combined [[with]] the [[vowels]] i and u, forming the diphthongs ai and au; by changing the i [[into]] e, the diphthong ai [[soon]] became ae. So we [[find]] in the oldest inscriptions: AIDE, AIDLLIS, AIQVOM, GNAIVOD, HAICE, DVELONAI, TABELAI, DATAI, etc., [[which]] [[soon]] gave [[place]] to aedem, [[aedilis]], aequom, Gnaeo, haec, Bellonae, tabellae, datae, etc. (the Col. Rostr. has PRAESENTE, PRAEDAD, and the S. C. de Bacch. AEDEM. The triphthong aei, [[found]] in CONQVAEISIVEI (?), is [[very]] [[rare]]; Miliar. Popil. lin. 11, v. Ritschl, l. l. p. 21). In [[some]] poets the old gen. [[sing]]. of the [[first]] decl. (-ai) is preserved, [[but]] is dissyllabic, āī. So in [[Ennius]]: Albūī Longūī, terrūī frugiferāī, frondosāī, lunāī, viāī; in Vergil: aulāī, aurāī, aquāī, pictāī; in [[Ausonius]]: herāī.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> ue as [[well]] as au are changed [[into]] [[other]] [[vowels]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The [[sound]] of ae, e, and oe [[being]] [[very]] [[similar]], these [[vowels]] are [[often]] interchanged in the [[best]] MSS., So we [[find]] [[caerimonia]] and [[cerimonia]], [[caepa]] and cēpa, saeoulum and séculum; [[scaena]] and scēna; [[caelum]] and coelum, [[haedus]] and [[hoedus]], macstus and moestus; [[cena]], [[coena]], and [[caena]], etc.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In [[composition]] and reduplications ae becomes í: [[aequus]], iníquus; [[quaero]], inquíro; [[laedo]], illído; [[taedet]], [[pertisum]] (noticed by Cic.); aestumo, exístumo; cuedo, cecídi, concído, [[homicida]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>3</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ae is also changed [[into]] í in a Latinized [[word]] of Greek [[origin]]: [[Ἀχαιός]] （Ἀχαιϝός）>, Achíous.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>4</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The diphthong au is [[often]] changed to ó and ú (the [[latter]] [[particularly]] in compounds): [[caudex]], códex; [[Claudius]], [[Clodius]]; [[lautus]], [[lotus]]; [[plaustrum]], plōstrum; [[plaudo]], plōdo, explōdo; [[paululum]], pōlulum; [[faux]], suffōco; si audes (acc. to Cic. or acc. to others, si audies), sódes, etc.; [[claudo]], inclūdo; [[causa]], accūso. Hence in [[some]] words a [[regular]] [[gradation]] of au, o, u is [[found]]: [[claudo]], clōdicare, clúdo; [[raudus]], ródus, rúdus; [[caupo]], cópa, cūpa; naugae, nōgae ([[both]] forms in the MSS. of [[Plautus]]), nūgae; fraustra, frode, frude (in MSS. of Vergil); cf. Ritschl, in Wintercatalog 1854-55, and O. Ribbeck, in Jahn's Neue Jahrb. vol. 77, p. 181 sq.—The [[change]] of au [[into]] oē and ō appears [[only]] in [[audio]], ([[oboedio]]) obēdio.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>5</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Au [[sometimes]] takes the [[place]] of av-: [[faveo]], fautum, [[favitor]], [[fautor]]; [[navis]], [[navita]], [[nauta]]; [[avis]], [[auceps]], [[auspex]]. So Latin aut corresponds to Sanscr. avo. ([[whence]] -vā, Lat. -ve), Osc. avti, Umbr. ute, ote; and so the Lat. preposition ab, [[through]] av, becomes au in the words [[aufero]] and [[aufugio]] ([[prop]]. av-[[fero]], av-[[fugio]], for ab-[[fero]], ab-[[fugio]]). Vid. the [[art]]. ab init.<br />In [[primitive]] roots, [[which]] [[have]] [[their]] [[kindred]] forms in the [[sister]]-languages of the Latin, the [[original]] a, [[still]] [[found]] in the Sanscrit, is in Latin [[either]] preserved or [[more]] [[frequently]] changed [[into]] [[other]] [[vowels]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> Original a preserved: Sanscr. mātri, Lat. màter; S. bhrātri, L. fràter; S. nāsā, L. nàsus and nàris; S. ap, L. [[aqua]]; S. apa, L. ab; S. nāma, L. năm; S. ćatur, L. [[quattuor]] (in Greek changed: τἑτταρες); S. capūla, L. căput (in Greek changed: [[κεφαλή]]>, etc.).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> Original a is changed [[into]] [[other]] Latin [[vowels]]—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Into e: S. ad, L. ed (ĕdo); S. as, L. es (esse); S. [[pat]], L. [[pet]] ([[peto]]); S. pād, L. pĕd (pès); S. dant, L. [[dent]] ([[dens]]); S. ǵan, L. gen ([[gigno]]); S. mā, L. mè-tior; S. saptan, L. [[septem]]; S. daśan, L. [[decem]]; S. śata, L. [[centum]]; S. aham, L. ŏgo; S. pāra, L. per; S. paśu, L. pŏcus; S. asva, L. ŏquus, etc.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Into i: S. an-, a- (neg. [[part]].), L. in-: S. ana (prep.), L. in; S. antar, L. [[inter]]; S. sama, L. [[similis]]; S. agni, L. [[ignis]]; S. abhra, L. [[imber]]; S. panéa, L. [[quinque]], etc.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>3</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Into o: S. avi, L. ŏvi ([[ovis]]); S. vać, L. vōc ([[voco]]); S. pra, L. pro; S. pā, L. po (pŏtum); S. nāma, L. nōmen; S. api, L. ŏb; S. navan, L. nŏvem; S. nava, L. nŏvus, etc.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>4</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Into u: S. marmara, L. [[murmur]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>5</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Into ai, ae: S. prati, L. (prai) [[prae]]; S. śaśpa, L. [[caespes]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>6</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Into [[different]] [[vowels]] in the [[different]] derivatives: S. mā, L. mê-tior, mŏdus; S. praó, L. prŏcor, prŏcus; S. vah, L. vĕho, via.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> Sometimes the Latin has preserved the [[original]] a, [[while]] [[even]] the Sanscrit has changed it: Lat. pa-, [[pater]], Sanscr. pd, pitri.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As an [[abbreviation]] A. [[usually]] denotes the [[praenomen]] [[Aulus]]; A. A. = Auli duo, Inscr. Orell. 1530 ([[but]] A. A. = Aquae Aponi, the [[modern]] Abano, ib. 1643 sq.; 2620; 3011). The [[three]] directors of the [[mint]] were designated by III. VIRI A. A. A. F. F. (i. e. [[auro]], argento, aeri flando, feriundo), ib. 569; 2242; 2379; 3134 al.; so also A. A. A., ib. 3441 (cf. Cic. Fam. 7, 13 fin., and v. the [[art]]. Triumviri); A. D. A. agris dandis adsignandis, and A. I. A. agris judicandis adsignandis; A. O. [[amico]] optimo; A. P. a [[populo]] or aediliciae potestatis; A. P. R. aerario populi Romani. —Upon the voting tablets in [[judicial]] trials A. denoted absoluo; [[hence]] A. is called [[littera]] [[salutaris]], Cic. Mil. 6, 15; v. [[littera]]. In the Roman Comitia A. (=[[antiquo]]) denoted the [[rejection]] of the [[point]] in [[question]]; v. [[antiquo]]. In [[Cicero]]'s Tusculan Disputations the A. designated one of the disputants = [[adulescens]] or [[auditor]], opp. to M. for [[magister]] or [[Marcus]] ([[Cicero]]); [[but]] it is to be remarked [[that]] the letters A and M do not [[occur]] in the [[best]] MSS. of this [[treatise]]; cf. edd. ad Cic. Tusc. 1, 5, 9.—In dates A. D. =[[ante]] diem; v. [[ante]]; A. U. C. = [[anno]] urbis conditae; A. P. R. C. [[anno]] [[post]] Romam conditam.
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