Where does “ἀ-” come from?

ἀ- (Ancient Greek) comes from Proto-Hellenic hə-, from Proto-Indo-European sm̥-, from Proto-Indo-European sem- — together, one.

ἀ- (Ancient Greek): The alpha privativum, used to make words that...

Definitions

  1. The alpha privativum, used to make words that...

Ancestry of “ἀ-”, step by step

ἀ- traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Hellenic hə-

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Hellenichə-same; together
2Proto-Indo-Europeansm̥-one; with, together
3Proto-Indo-Europeansem-together, one

via Proto-Hellenic ə-

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Hellenicə-un-, not; without, lacking
2Proto-Indo-Europeann̥-not, un-
3Proto-Indo-Europeannenot

via Ancient Greek γνῶσις

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekγνῶσιςinquiry; knowledge; fame
2Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneh₃-to know

Words derived from “ἀ-”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sem- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European sm̥- →Every word from Proto-Hellenic hə- →