Α, α, ἄλφα
(q.v.), τό, indecl., alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. As a numeral, αʹ = 1, α͵ = 1000. As a prefix, it appears to have at least two and perhaps three distinct senses:
ἀ- (before a vowel, ἀν-) negative, as in ἄ-γνωστος, ἄ-δικος.
ἀ-, ἁ- copulative, indicating community and fellowship, as in ἁ-πλοῦς, ἀ-κολουθέω, ἀ-δελφός.
An intensive force (LS, s. α), as in ἀ-τενίζω is sometimes assumed (but v. Boisacq, s.v.).
