-a

//ɑ// suffix, slang

Definitions

Suffix
  1. 1
    plural of -um form-of, morpheme, plural
  2. 2
    plural of -on form-of, morpheme, plural
  3. 3
    Marks singular nouns, with a foundation in Greek or Latin, often implying femininity, especially when contrasted with words terminating in -us. morpheme
  4. 4
    Marks nouns, with a foundation in Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese, implying femininity. morpheme

    "donna"

  5. 5
    Added for metrical reasons to songs, poetry and verse, or as an empty filler syllable to other speech. morpheme

    "A merry heart goes all the day Your sad tires in a mile-a"

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    Alternative form of 've. alt-of, alternative, morpheme, slang

    "who'da thunk it?"

  2. 7
    Clitic form of o' (contraction of of). clitic, form-of, morpheme, slang

    "buncha, cuppa, kinda, loadsa, lotta, sorta"

  3. 8
    to (infinitive marker) informal, morpheme

    "oughta"

  4. 9
    do (infinitive marker) informal, morpheme

    "whatta"

  5. 10
    Changes an element or substance into an oxide. morpheme

    "magnesium + -a → magnesia"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin -a (nominative second declension neuter plural suffix), plural counterpart to -um (nominative second declension neuter singular suffix).

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Ancient Greek -α (-a, nominative second declension neuter plural suffix), plural counterpart to -ον (-on, nominative second declension neuter singular suffix).

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Latin -a (nominative first declension neuter singular suffix)

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Italian -a, Spanish -a and Portuguese -a, all feminine noun suffixes from Latin -a.

Etymology 5

Added especially for metrical reasons, or as an empty filler syllable.

Etymology 6

Contraction of have.

Etymology 7

Contraction of of.

Etymology 8

Contraction of to.

Etymology 9

Contraction of do.

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