“a” in Latin

Letter of the Alphabet, A. The letter A, A littera. Short A, A brevis. Great A, A grandis (opposed to minuta). To end in the letter A, in A litteram exire (Quint.). To learn one’s A, B. C. (1) lit., alpha et beta discere (Juv.), litterarum nomina et contextus discere (their names in order): (2) Figuratively, prima elementa discere: *primis elementis or litteris imbui.

Indefinite article: untranslated: but if it is to be intimated that the word is not to be understood definitely, aliquis is used; e.g.,” in the definition of a thing,” in definitione alicujus rei (in definitione rei would mean: of the thing already mentioned, or going to be mentioned).

A certain one, a particular individual, though it is not necessary, or perhaps possible, to name it, quidam; e.g.,” A peasant did this,” hoc fecit rusticus quidam.

Often equivalent to “such a one,” is qui; e.g., who would not be favorably disposed to a king who? etc.; quis non ei regi faveret, qui, etc. (with subjunctive).

“A” is also translated by quidam, when a particular individual is referred to a class; e.g., ’in the house of a host named Camelus, “in hospitis cujusdam, nomine Cameli, domo. “Fabius a Pelignian,” Fabiua, Pelignus quidam.

“A Plato,” to express a man like Plato, a man of Plato’s genius, etc., is generally translated by the plur.; e.g., “We speak of a Paullus, a Cato, a Gallus,” dicimus Paullos, Catones, Gallos.

Each, with numerals. “A” omitted, and a distributive numeral used: “a day,” “a month,” etc., mostly singuli, singulis diebus, mensibus, etc. (but also quot diebus, mensibus, etc.): in singulas horas, in singulos dies (but also in horas, in dies). “There were two hunts a day for the five days,” binae venationes per dies quinque. “A man,” mostly omitted, and distributive numeral used. “Two acres a man were allotted to the common people,” bina jugera agri plebi dividebantur. All to a man, ad unum omnes.

“A” before the participial subst. is to be translated by the supine, “to go a hunting,” venatum ire.