α, Ἀλφα

Α, α, ἄλφα (which see), τό, indecl.,

alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. As a numeral, ά = 1, α = 1000. As a prefix, it appears to have at least two and perhaps three distinct senses:

1. ἀ- (before a vowel, ἀν-) negative, as in ἄ-γνωστος, ἄ-δικος.

2. ἀ-, ἁ- copulative, indicating community and fellowship, as in ἁ-πλοῦς, ἀ-κολουθέω, ἀ-δελφός.

3. An intensive force (LS, s. α), as in ἀ-τενίζω is sometimes assumed (but see Boisacq, see word).

(AS)