Word origins

• almonerA person who distributes alms, especially the doles and alms of religious houses, almshouses.
• almsgiverA giver of alms.
• almsmanOne who depends on the receipt of alms, a beggar.
• almucantarA small circle on the celestial sphere, parallel to the horizon, that is used in astronomy and navigation to show altitude of a star or any other heavenly body.
• alnageMeasurement (of cloth) by the ell, specifically, official inspection and measurement of woollen cloth, and attestation of its value by the affixing of a lead seal, as was once required by British law.
• alonelyExclusive; sole; only.
• alongstalong
• AlphamstoneA village in Essex, England.
• alureA walkway or passageway.
• alwhiteComposed of polished steel plates covering most or all of the body without a surcoat or other covering; white; pertaining to white armor.
• amanseTo excommunicate; interdict.
• amaritudeBitterness, sorrow.
• ambageEvasive or ambiguous language; circumlocution.
• ambagesIndirect or roundabout ways of talking; circumlocution.
• amenePleasant; agreeable.
• amercementA non-statutory monetary penalty or forfeiture, usually applied at the discretion of a court.
• amiceA hood, or cape with a hood, made of or lined with grey fur, formerly worn by the clergy.
• amindTo bear in mind; consider.
• ammoniacumA gum-resin exuded from the several perennial herbs in the genus Ferula of the umbel family (Apiaceae).
• amorouslyIn an amorous or loving manner.
• amoveTo set in motion; to stir up, excite.
• amplectionAn embrace.
• -anOf or pertaining to; an adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. (Often added to words of Latin origin, but also used with words of other origins. When a word ends in a, -n is used instead.)
• an-not; used to make words that have a sense opposite to the word (or stem) to which the prefix is attached. Used with stems that begin with vowels and "h".
• anatomizeTo cut up or dissect (the body of a human being or an animal), specifically for the purpose of investigating its anatomy.
• -anceAdded to an adjective or verb to form a noun indicating a state or condition, such as result or capacity, associated with the verb.
• ancomeA small inflammatory swelling, arising suddenly.
• -andUsed to form the present participle of verbs, equivalent to -ing.
• andironA utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side
• anenstOver against.
• angeletA small gold coin used in England from the 15th century
• angelicalBelonging to, or proceeding from, angels; resembling, characteristic of, or partaking of the nature of, an angel.
• angellikeResembling or characteristic of an angel.
• angellyOf, relating to, or resembling an angel; angellike; angelic.
• angerfulFull of anger, expressing anger.
• angerlyAngrily.
• angletwitchAn angleworm; earthworm.
• angrinessThe state of being angry; anger.
• anhungeredHungry.
• anighNigh; near.
• animal spiritsThe theorized ‘spirits’ or physiological principles which allowed for sensation and voluntary movement.
• animoseResolute and full of vigor; vehement.
• ankleboneThe bone of the ankle, forming the lower part of the ankle joint and joining with the tibia and fibula.
• anlaceA medieval long dagger.
• annectSynonym of annex.
• annexionannexation
• annoyoustroublesome; annoying
• annuellerA priest employed in saying anniversary Masses.
• answeringlyIn a way that answers; so as to answer; in reply.
• -antThe agent noun derived from verb.
• antecessorA person or thing that precedes or goes before.
• anxomAnxious.
• apayTo satisfy, please.
• apostemeAn abscess; a pustulent swelling.
• apostlessA female apostle.
• appairTo make worse; to injure or damage.
• apparencyThe quality of being apparent; apparentness.
• apperceiveTo perceive.
• appledMade from or flavored by apples.
• apple-mushThe mush or puree of apples; applesauce.
• apple of someone's eyeThe object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
• apple of the eyeThe pupil, or pupil and iris, of the eye, originally believed to be spherical; also, the eyeball.
• apple treeAny tree that bears apples, principally Malus domestica but also certain wild species.
• appliableCompliant; accommodating.
• applicateAn applied material; an application
• appropryTo appropriate (for); to set apart.
• aqua-water
• aquosityThe condition of being watery; wateriness
• -arOf, near, or pertaining to; adjective suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to make an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also.
• araceTo tear up by the roots; to draw away.
• arbalestA steel crossbow.
• arbalisterA crossbowman.
• arbitramentThe judgement of an arbiter or arbitrator; an arbitration.
• arblastA wooden crossbow with a special drawing mechanism, used to fire bolts, stones, etc.
• arch-A title in a hierarchy which indicates a higher degree of rank than its root word.
• archbishopdomThe realm, sphere, domain, office, or jurisdiction of an archbishop; archbishopric.
• architectorAn architect.
• archwifeA big, masculine wife; a dominating woman; virago.
• -ardSomeone who is in a specified condition (“pejorative agent suffix”).
• AristippusA male given name from Ancient Greek, of historical usage.
• armlengthThe length of each arm of an interferometer
• ArmoricRelating to Armorica; Armorican.
• arreadTo declare; tell; interpret; explain.
• arrière-gardeThe rearguard of an army or other force.
• arrivageAn arrival, especially one by ship or boat.
• arselongBackwards; on one's arse.
• arteresinew, ligament, tendon, artery
• -aryOf or pertaining to. Adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to produce an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also.
• Ash WednesdayThe Wednesday 46 days before Easter in a given year, (Catholicism) traditionally observed as the beginning of Lent and a day of strict abstention from certain foods and pleasures.
• as ifAs though; in a manner suggesting.
• as it wereUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as, it, were.
• askinglyIn an asking manner; so as to ask.
• aslakeTo abate; diminish.
• aslantAt or on a slant; in a slanting or sloping direction.
• aslopeSlanted, sloping.
• asperationHarshness; unpleasantness.
• asquintLooking sideways, as though warily.
• assailerSomeone who assails
• asslikeResembling or characteristic of an ass (the animal).
• assoilTo absolve or release (someone) from blame or sin; to forgive, to pardon.