1. (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.

2. (conj.) If; -- a word used by old English authors.

a a certain all all and some all and sundry an any one anybody anyone anything atomic aught certain each each and all each and every each one either every every one exclusive individual indivisible integral irreducible lone measured monadic monistic one one and all quantified quantitative quantitive quantized simple single singular sole solid solitary some something somewhat unanalyzable undivided uniform unique unitary whole