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ONAD→a (1)

a (1)

Flag: gbEnglishOxford New American Dictionary
a1 /ā, , eɪ , ə, ə / (an before a vowel sound)
▸ determiner
1 used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation. Compare with the:
a man came out of the room
it has been an honor to meet you
we need people with a knowledge of languages.
▪ used with units of measurement to mean one such unit:
a hundred
a quarter of an hour.
▪ [with negative] one single; any:
I simply haven't a thing to wear.
▪ used when mentioning the name of someone not known to the speaker:
a Mr. Smith telephoned.
▪ someone like (the name specified):
you're no better than a Hitler.
2 used to indicate membership of a class of people or things:
he is a lawyer
this car is a BMW.
3 used when expressing rates or ratios; in, to, or for each; per:
typing 60 words a minute
cost as much as eight dollars a dozen.
– ORIGIN Middle English : weak form of Old English ān ‘one’.
On the question of using a or an before words beginning with h, see usage at an.