How long was the privative alpha?

1. Is alpha privative long or short?
2. What is Privative alpha?
3. What is alpha privative in Latin?
4. What is the Greek alpha prefix?

Is alpha privative long or short?

Usage notes. The alpha is usually short, but long when added to a stem that begins with three short syllables.

What is Privative alpha?

alpha privative (plural alpha privatives) (grammar) The prefix a- (or an- when prefixing a root which begins with a vowel) found in some English words of Greek derivation. It expresses negation or absence. The prefix has cognates in other Indo-European languages, including in- in Latin and un- in English.

What is alpha privative in Latin?

An alpha privative or, rarely, privative a (from Latin alpha prīvātīvum, from Ancient Greek α στερητικόν) is the prefix a- or an- (before vowels) that is used in Indo-European languages such as Sanskrit and Greek and in words borrowed therefrom to express negation or absence, for example the English words of greek ...

What is the Greek alpha prefix?

From Ancient Greek ἀπό- (apó-), from ἀπό (apó, “from, away from”, preposition), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epo (“off, away”).