An , conj. [Shortened fr. and, OE. an., and, sometimes and if, in
introducing conditional clauses, like Icel. enda if, the same word
as and. Prob. and was originally pleonastic
before the conditional clause.]
If; -- a word used by old English authors.
Shak.
Nay, an thou dalliest, then I am thy foe.
B. Jonson.
An if, and if; if.
An (ăn). [AS.
ān one, the same word
as the numeral. See One, and cf. A.]
This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In such expressions as "twice an hour," "once an age," a shilling an ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has
a distributive force, and is
equivalent to each, every.
&fist; An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as, an enemy, an hour. It
in also often used before h sounded, when the accent of
the word falls on the second
syllable; as, an historian, an hyena, an heroic deed. Many writers use a before h in such positions. Anciently an was used before consonants as well as
vowels.
Hear it pronounced