. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
you have here. The definition of the word
will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English an- , from Old English an- , on- ( “ on- ” ) , from Proto-West Germanic *ana- , from Proto-Germanic *ana- ( “ on ” ) . More at on .
Alternative forms
Prefix
an-
Alternative form of on-
an come , an eal , an ent
Etymology 2
From Ancient Greek ἀν- ( an- ) . Doublet of un- and in- .
Prefix
an-
not ; used to make words that have a sense opposite to the word (or stem) to which the prefix is attached. Used with stems that begin with vowels and "h".
Without , lacking .
an oxia ( without oxygen ) , an androus ( without male parts )
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
See also
Anagrams
Aromanian
Prefix
an-
Alternative form of ãn-
Classical Nahuatl
Alternative forms
am- (when followed by a vowel or a consonant which is labial )
Prefix
an-
Subject prefix for verbs; it indicates that the subject is second-person plural ; you , you all .
Cornish
Prefix
an-
un- , non-
Derived terms
References
Akademi Kernewek Gerlyver Kernewek (FSS) Cornish Dictionary (SWF) , 2018, published 2018, page 11
Dutch
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀ- ( a- ) (ἀν- ( an- ) immediately preceding a vowel).
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
an- : Not , without, opposite of.
Derived terms
French
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
in- , an- . Alternative form of a- before a vowel or h
Derived terms
German
Etymology
From the preposition an , from Middle High German an(e) , from Proto-West Germanic *ana , from Proto-Germanic *ana . Compare Dutch aan- , English on- .
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /an/ ,
IPA (key ) : /aːn/ ( still sometimes Austria, Switzerland; in Germany now highly archaic )
Prefix
an- (seperable verb prefix )
onto , at , towards (the object)
an- + schrauben ( “ to screw ” ) → anschrauben ( “ to screw on, attach by screwing ” )
an- + schreien ( “ to shout ” ) → anschreien ( “ to shout at ” )
an- + bauen ( “ to build ” ) → anbauen ( “ to attach, expand, build next to ” )
near , over , towards (the subject)
Synonyms: her- , herbei-
Antonyms: ab- , weg- , fort-
an- + ziehen ( “ to pull ” ) → anziehen ( “ to attract, pull towards one ” )
an- + kaufen ( “ to buy ” ) → ankaufen ( “ to buy so as to form a stock, buy up ” )
expresses a beginning, partial or slight action
Antonyms: durch- , fertig - , weg-
an- + knabbern ( “ to nibble ” ) → anknabbern ( “ to nibble part of, start to nibble ” )
an- + braten ( “ to fry ” ) → anbraten ( “ to sear, fry outwardly or slightly ” )
an- + zahlen ( “ to pay ” ) → anzahlen ( “ to pay down, pay part of ” )
on , in use
Antonym: aus-
an- + stellen ( “ to put ” ) → anstellen ( “ to turn on ” )
Usage notes
Also occurs in many nouns, but these are generally deverbal .
Derived terms
Ido
Etymology
From an ( “ at, on ” ) .
Prefix
an-
at , on
Derived terms
Irish
Etymology 1
From Old Irish an- , from Proto-Celtic *an- , from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- .
Alternative forms
ana- (form used before consonants in Munster )
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
( with adjectives, always spelled with a hyphen ) very
Synonyms: fíor- , rí-
( with adjectives ) over- , excessively , intensely
( with nouns ) great , excessive
Usage notes
Triggers lenition (except of d , s , and t ):
In some dialects (e.g. Aran), it also changes s to ts :
an- + saor → an-tsaor ( “ very cheap ” ) (standard form an-saor )
In Munster, this form is used only before a vowel; before a consonant the variant ana- is used.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Old Irish an- , in- , from Proto-Celtic *an- , from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- .
Alternative forms
ain- (used before slender vowels and consonants )
Pronunciation
Prefix
an- (usually spelled without a hyphen )
in- , un- , not
bad , unnatural
Derived terms
Etymology 3
From Ancient Greek ἀν- ( an- ) .
Prefix
an-
an- ( not )
Derived terms
Mutation
Irish mutation
Radical
Eclipsis
with h -prothesis
with t -prothesis
an-
n-an-
han-
t-an-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.
Further reading
Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904), “an-”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla , 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 27
Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904), “an”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla , 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 27
Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 16
Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “an- ”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla , Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
Italian
Prefix
an-
Alternative form of a- indicating lack or loss
Derived terms
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From the preposition an , from Proto-Germanic *in . Compare German ein- , English in- .
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
in- (indicates physical or metaphorical motion into something)
Usage notes
When attached to a verb stem beginning with a consonant sound other than /d/, /h/, /n/, /t/ or /t͡s/, the prefix becomes a- as a result of the Eifeler Regel .
Antonyms
Derived terms
Malagasy
Prefix
an-
prefix element of an- -ana
See also
Middle English
Prefix
an-
Alternative form of en-
Middle Welsh
Etymology
From Proto-Brythonic *an- , from Proto-Celtic *an- , from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- .
Prefix
an-
un- , not
Derived terms
Descendants
Old English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *aina- , from Proto-Germanic *aina- ( “ one, uni- ” ) , equivalent to Old English ān ( “ one ” ) .
Pronunciation
Prefix
ān-
one ; mono- , uni-
ān- + -hende ( “ handed ” ) → ānhende ( “ one-handed ” )
ān- + horn ( “ horn ” ) → ānhorn ( “ unicorn ” )
ān- + -īeġe ( “ -eyed ” ) → ānīeġe ( “ one-eyed ” )
ān- + -mōd ( “ -minded ” ) → ānmōd ( “ unanimous ” )
ān- + -nes ( “ -ness ” ) → ānnes ( “ unity ” )
ān- + wīġ ( “ battle ” ) → ānwīġ ( “ duel ” )
ān- + -wille ( “ -willed ” ) → ānwille ( “ stubborn ” )
ān- + -wintre ( “ years old ” ) → ānwintre ( “ one year old ” )
lone , alone
ān- + *genġa ( “ walker ” ) → āngenġa ( “ loner ” )
ān- + *setla ( “ settler ” ) → ānsetla ( “ hermit ” )
Related terms
Old French
Prefix
an-
Alternative form of en-
Usage notes
Old Irish
Etymology 1
From Proto-Celtic *an- , from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- .
Alternative forms
Prefix
an-
un- , not
bad
Derived terms
Descendants
Irish: an-
Scottish Gaelic: an-
Etymology 2
Uncertain. Maybe related to Welsh en- and Gaulish ande- in proper names Andecarus ( literally “ very dear ” ) and Anderoudus ( literally “ very red ” ) . Considered the same word as an- ( “ un- ” ) by DIL (see Further reading).
Prefix
an-
very
Derived terms
Descendants
Irish: an-
Scottish Gaelic: an-
Etymology 3
Unknown.
Prefix
an-
denoting a movement away from some reference point, used to form adverbs of place , for example anúas ( “ from above ” )
Derived terms
Related terms
Descendants
Irish: an-
Scottish Gaelic: an-
References
^ Vendryes, Joseph (1959), “an- , particule intensive”, in Lexique Étymologique de l'Irlandais Ancien [Etymological lexicon of Old Irish ] (in French), volume A, Dublin, Paris: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, page A-70
^ Vendryes, Joseph (1959), “an- , particule servant a marquer le point de départ d'un mouvement”, in Lexique Étymologique de l'Irlandais Ancien [Etymological lexicon of Old Irish ] (in French), volume A, Dublin, Paris: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, page A-70f
Further reading
G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “an- ”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
(Negative prefix:) Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2003), D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin , transl., A Grammar of Old Irish , Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN , § 869-72, page 542-44
(Adverbs of place:) Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2003), D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin , transl., A Grammar of Old Irish , Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN , § 483, page 305
Pali
Alternative forms
Prefix
an-
Alternative form of a- used before words beginning with vowels
Derived terms
References
Pali Text Society (1921–1925), “an- ”, in Pali-English Dictionary , London: Chipstead
Pipil
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
( personal ) you , second-person plural subject marker.
An tekitit tik ne mil?Do you work at the cornfield?
Usage notes
Before a vowel, an- changes to anh - . The digraph ⟨nh⟩ is pronounced as . Example:
Anh ajsiket peyna.You came early.
See also
Pipil verb subject markers
Polish
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀ- ( a- ) (ἀν- ( an- ) immediately preceding a vowel), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- ( “ un-, not ” ) , zero-grade form of *ne ( “ not ” ) . Doublet of nie .
Pronunciation
IPA (key ) : /an/
Rhymes: -an
Syllabification: an
Prefix
an-
forming words with the sense of negation, an-
Derived terms
Further reading
an- in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Saterland Frisian
Etymology
From Old Frisian an- , from Proto-West Germanic *ana- . Cognates include West Frisian oan- and German an- .
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
Combining form of an
Derived terms
Scottish Gaelic
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Old Irish an- .
Prefix
an-
un- , anti-
bad , unnatural
Derived terms
Related terms
Prefix
an-
Used to emphasise the root .
Derived terms
Spanish
Prefix
an-
an-
Derived terms
Further reading
Swedish
Etymology
From the Old Swedish and- meaning “against/towards”.
Prefix
an-
against , towards
Derived terms
Anagrams
Welsh
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle Welsh an- , from Proto-Brythonic *an- , from Proto-Celtic *an- , from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- . Cognate with Cornish an- .
Prefix
an-
not , un- , non- , an- , dis- , negative prefix
Synonym: ( used before gl , ll , rh , and consonantal i ) af-
an- + parch ( “ respect ” ) → amarch ( “ disrespect ” )
an- + prisiadwy ( “ valuable ” ) → amhrisiadwy ( “ invaluable ” )
an- + teg ( “ fair ” ) → annheg ( “ unfair ” )
an- + cofio ( “ to remember ” ) → anghofio ( “ to forget ” )
an- + diwedd ( “ end ” ) → anniwedd ( “ endless ” )
an- + gwybod ( “ to know ” ) → anwybod ( “ ignorance ” )
an- + mantais ( “ advantage ” ) → anfantais ( “ disadvantage ” )
Usage notes
Triggers the nasal mutation of p , t , c and d , sometimes with accompanying euphonic or orthographic adjustments, and the soft mutation of b , g and m .
Etymology 2
From Proto-Celtic *ande- , *ando- ( “ inside ” ) .
Prefix
an- ( not productive )
intensive prefix
in- , inside , inward
Derived terms
Mutation
Further reading
R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “an- ”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
References
Ye'kwana
Pronunciation
Prefix
an-
allomorph of ön- ( negative/sociative irrealis prefix ) used for stems that begin with a or e .