阿あ

noun

first Sanskrit alphabet letter

Buddhist term; refers to the letter 'a' in Siddham script, often symbolizing the origin of all things. See also 阿字 (あじ).

See also: 阿字 (あじ)

• 密みっ教きょうでは、阿あ字じは万ばん物ぶつの根こん源げんを表あらわすとされる。

  In esoteric Buddhism, the letter 'a' is said to represent the origin of all things.

noun

Africa

Abbreviation of 阿弗利加 (アフリカ). Rarely used independently; mostly found in historical or abbreviated contexts.

See also: 阿弗利加 (アフリカ)

• 「阿あ」は古ふるい地ち図ずでアフリカを指さす略りゃく字じとして使つかわれた。

  '阿' was used as an abbreviation for Africa on old maps.

noun

Awa (old province)

Abbreviation for the old Japanese province of Awa (阿波国). Now mainly historical or used in place names.

• 阿波国あわのくには、現げん在ざいの徳とく島しま県けんにあたる。

  Awa Province corresponds to present-day Tokushima Prefecture.

prefix

intimate prefix for names

Archaic familiar prefix attached to personal names to show closeness, similar to お or ご in modern Japanese but now obsolete.

• 古こ典てんでは「阿あ母ぼ」のように親したしみを込こめて名な前まえに付つけることがあった。

  In classical texts, '阿' was sometimes attached to names to express familiarity, as in '阿母'.