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-α. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-α, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-α in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-α you have here. The definition of the word
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-α, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Ancient Greek
Etymology 1
From Proto-Hellenic *-ā́, from Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂. Cognate with Latin feminine -a, from Old Latin and Proto-Italic *-ā (both in names and adjectives).
Pronunciation
Suffix
-ᾱ • (-ā) f (genitive -ᾱς); first declension
- Earlier form of -η (-ē).
- ᾰ̓γείρω (ageírō, “to gather”) + -ᾱ > ᾰ̓γορᾱ́ (agorā́)
Usage notes
The earlier -ᾱ is retained in certain dialects, and in Attic after ε, ι or ρ, whence -εā, -ιā and -ρā (e.g., ἀγορά (agorá, “agorā”)).
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From the neuter accusative plural ending -ᾰ (-a).
Pronunciation
Suffix
-ᾰ • (-a)
- Added to adjectival roots to form an adverb: -ly
- σᾰφ-ής (saph-ḗs, “clear”) + -ᾰ (-a) → σᾰ́φᾰ (sápha, “clearly”)
Derived terms
Greek
Suffix
-α • (-a)
- used with a noun to form an augmentative:
- μπουκάλι (boukáli, “bottle”) + -α (-a) → μπουκάλα (boukála, “large bottle”)
- added to adjectival roots to form an adverb:
- γρήγορος (grígoros, “quick”) + -α (-a) → γρήγορα (grígora, “quickly”)
- to form the feminine:
- δούλος (doúlos, “male slave”) + -α (-a) → δούλα (doúla, “female slave”)
- an inflectional ending, some examples:
- καρότο (karóto, “carrot”) + -α (-a) → καρότα (karóta, “carrots”, plural case forms)
- φύλακας (fýlakas, “guard”) + -α (-a) → φύλακα (fýlaka, single case forms)
Derived terms