Adjacent Words

An definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

AN, a. [L. unus, una, unum; Gr.]
One; noting an individual, either definitely, known, certain, specified, or understood; or indefinitely, not certain, known, or specified. Definitely, as "Noah built an ark of Gopher wood." "Paul was an eminent apostle." Indefinitely, as "Bring me an orange." Before a consonant the letter n is dropped, as a man; but our ancestors wrote an man, an king. This letter represents an definitely, or indefinitely. Definitely, as "I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God." Exodus 6. Indefinitely, as "the province of a judge is to decide controversies." An being the same word as one, should not be used with it; "such an one" is tautology; the true phrase is such one. Although an, a and one, are the same word, and always have the same sense, yet by custom, an and a are used exclusively as a definite adjective, and one is used in numbering. Where our ancestors wrote an, twa, thry, we now use one, two, three. So an and a are never used except with a noun; but one like other adjectives, is sometimes used without its noun, and as a substitute for it; "one is at a loss to assign a reason for such conduct."
AN, in old English authors, signifies if; as, "an it please your honor." Gr.; L. an, if or whether. It is probably an imperative, like if, gif, give.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an associate degree in nursing [syn: Associate in Nursing, AN]

Merriam Webster's

abbreviation airman (Navy)

Merriam Webster's

I. indefinite article Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ?n one — more at one Date: before 12th century a II Usage: see a II II. preposition Date: before 12th century a III,2 Usage: see a II III. conjunction or an' Date: 12th century 1. and 2. archaic if IV. abbreviation Etymology: Latin annum; annus year

Merriam Webster's

conjunction see an III

Britannica Concise

Cemented or compacted and often clayey layer in soil that cannot be penetrated by roots. Lime, gypsum, iron, and other minerals may be carried up to the surface of soil by capillary action and deposited to form a natural concrete. In agricultural situations, special equipment may be used to chisel away hardpan so that crop plants can grow.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. the form of the indefinite article (see A(1)) used before words beginning with a vowel sound (an egg; an hour; an MP). Usage: Now less often used before aspirated words beginning with h and stressed on a syllable other than the first (so a hotel, not an hotel).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

An An, conj. [Shortened fr. and, OE. an., and, sometimes and if, in introducing conditional clauses, like Icel. enda if, the same word as and. Prob. and was originally pleonastic before the conditional clause.] If; -- a word used by old English authors. --Shak. Nay, an thou dalliest, then I am thy foe. --B. Jonson. An if, and if; if.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

An An ([a^]n). [AS. [=a]n one, the same word as the numeral. See One, and cf. A.] This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as ``twice an hour,'' ``once an age,'' a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is equivalent to each, every. Note: An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as, an enemy, an hour. It in also often used before h sounded, when the accent of the word falls on the second syllable; as, an historian, an hyena, an heroic deed. Many writers use a before h in such positions. Anciently an was used before consonants as well as vowels.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

An is used instead of 'a', the indefinite article, in front of words that begin with vowel sounds. DET see also a

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

art. 1. One, any, some. 2. Each, every.

Dictionary of Ro

no, none