Α, α, ἄλφα, 
τό, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, opening the series which the letter 
ω closes. Hence, the expression 
ἐγώ εἰμί τό Α [L T Tr WH 
ἄλφα] 
καί τό Ω [
Ὦ L WH], 
Revelation 1:8, 
11 Rec., which is explained by the appended words 
ἡ ἀρχή καί τό τέλος, 
Revelation 21:6, and by the further addition 
ὁ πρῶτος καί ὁ ἔσχατος, 
Revelation 22:13. On the meaning of the phrase cf. 
Revelation 11:17; 
Isaiah 41:4; 
Isaiah 44:6; 
Isaiah 48:12; [especially B. D. American edition, p. 73].
 
Α, when prefixed to words as an inseparable syllable, is: 
 
1. privative (
στερητικόν), like the Latin 
in-, the English 
un-, giving a negative sense to the word to which it is prefixed, as 
ἀβαρής; or signifying what is contrary to it, as 
ἄτιμος, 
ἀτιμόω; before vowels generally 
ἀν-, as in 
ἀναίτιος. 
 
2. copulative (
ἀθροιστικόν), akin to the particle 
ἅμα [cf. Curtius, § 598], indicating community and fellowship, as in 
ἀδελφός, 
ἀκόλουθος. Hence, it is: 
 
3. intensive (
ἐπιτατικόν), strengthening the force of terms, like the Latin 
con in composition; as 
ἀτενίζω from 
ἀτενής [yet cf. Winers Grammar, 100 (95)]. This use, however, is doubted or denied now by many [
e. g. Lob. Path. Element. i. 34f). Cf. Kühner, i. 741, § 339 Anm. 5; [
Jelf, § 342 
δ.]; 
Bttm. Gram. § 120 Anm. 11; [
Donaldson, Gram., p. 334; New Crat. §§ 185, 213; Liddell and Scott, under the word]. 
    THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
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