a-
[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [FULL LIST]
a-1 prefix/preposition Added to the present participle of a verb, especially in narrating a story. [from reduction of the Middle English preposition on/an, as reflected in on fire => afire, first attested as a- in 1523, see OED a preposition 13; DARE labels this usage "throughout U.S., but especially frequent in Midland, Southwest; less frequent in South, New England" in the U.S.]
1798 Big Pigeon Minutes [T]heare is a report in Circulation that Henry Stiers is apt to drink too Excess and has been a gambeling. 1834 Crockett Narrative 159 I determined to get home to them, or die a-trying. 1864 Wilson Confederate Private 37 (March 8) father was a complaining of his fall little yet. 1889 Cole Letters 72 I want you all to try and meet me in heaven for I am A going to try and meet Jesus in heaven.1939 Hall Coll. (Little Cataloochee NC) Johnny ran down the hill a-aimin' to go to his uncle's. 1940 Haun Hawk's Done 150 He came a-footing it on in home. 1955 Ritchie Singing Family 243 Her chuffing and screaming like something had give her a mortal wound. Bells a-clanging, men a-hollern, women and children a-screaming, young boys a-laughing. 1964 Williams Prepositions Mt Speech 53 Not always clearly a preposition, however, a is sometimes used for what would seem to be rhythmical purposes: "and me a not a-knowin' a thang about it and a nuver a-cyurin' much." 1973 GSMNP-79:1:13 I noticed two older girls a-eatin' something out of a little syrup bucket. 1989 Landry Smoky Mt Interviews 194 I got out there in the creek, and I went to slipping and a-falling and a-pitching.
a-2 prefix Added to the past participle of a verb. [perhaps influenced by Middle English y-, from Old English ge-; cf OED2 a- preposition 6 and a- particle, first attested in 14th century; OED calls this "now a relic form in southwest England"; DARE labels it "chiefly Midland, South" in the U.S.]
1913 Kephart Our Sthn High 225 Ike Morgan Pringle’s a-been horse-throwed down the clift, and he’s in a manner stone dead. 1937 Hall Coll You were a-scared of that place? 1939 Hall Coll (White Oak NC) Afeared of your shadow [means] a-scared of your shadow. c1940 Simms Coll Well hit now looks as if we’uns air steppin’ right into the pages ov history, with all that bein’ a-written about us in the papers and magazine-books. 1954 GSMNP-19:6 Now they’s people gets lost in these Smoky Mountains specially before the park has a-opened up so many bridle trails. 1969 GSMNP-46:1 I would get [the cattle] a-gentled up and then I put the yoke on them. 1998 Dante OHP-12 They had done a-drove those mines through the mountain and come out on Chaney Creek.
a-3 prefix Added to an adverb in an expression of time such as a date or day of the week. [reduced form of on]
1862 Griffin CW Letters (March 11) we went out on picket a Sunday night and stood all night in the Rain. 1905 Miles Spirit of Mts 51 Anyhow, we’ll all go together to the feet-washin’ a-Sunday. 1939 Hall Coll.(Little Cataloochee NC) I went a-bear-huntin’ onst a-Fourth of July. 1971 AOHP/ALC-33 We’d put one [=dress] on on Monday, and we would take and wear hit till Thursday, and then we’d have the other one cleaned to wear a-Friday.
a-4 reduced form of have.
1863 (in 1992 Jackson Surry Co Soldiers 258) (Jan 13) I would a went to the doctor and a stayed. 1936 (in 2009 Powell Shenandoah Letters 77) He must not a got my letter. 1969 GSMNP-28:63 They couldn’t a raised their family. 1973 GSMNP-88:5 They liked to never a found her. 1989 Matewan OHP-33 I had close calls. The good Lord was with me or I'd a done been gone.