Unnumbered source etymology
Original entry ↗The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A. · Latin alpha: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ). · The name of the symbols Α and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix. · The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.
Designates the first in an order of precedence. · Exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype. · Designates some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation. · Clipping of alphabetical.
Etymology tree Proto-Semitic *ʔalp- Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (ʾlp)bor. Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)bor. English alpha From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif and aleph.
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
This page abbreviates 9 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.
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Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
{
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{
"name": "etymon",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":bor",
"3": "grc:ἄλφα<id:name>",
"id": "letter",
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},
"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Semitic *ʔalp-\nPhoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (ʾlp)bor.\nAncient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)bor.\nEnglish alpha\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"name\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"cattle\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"cattle\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Semitic\", \"term\" : \"*ʔalp-\", \"lang\" : \"sem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Phoenician\", \"term\" : \"𐤀𐤋𐤐\", \"lang\" : \"phn\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"ἄλφα\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"alpha\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"letter\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"alpha\" id=\"English:_letter\">"
},
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"expansion": "Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)"
},
{
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"3": "𐤀",
"t": "aleph"
},
"expansion": "Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”)"
},
{
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"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Semitic *ʔalp-\nPhoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤐 (ʾlp)bor.\nAncient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)bor.\nEnglish alpha"
}
],
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[
"*ʔalp-",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/ʔalp-#Proto-Semitic:_cattle"
],
[
"𐤀𐤋𐤐",
"𐤀𐤋𐤐#Phoenician:_cattle"
],
[
"ἄλφα",
"ἄλφα#Ancient_Greek:_name"
],
[
"ἄλφα",
"ἄλφα#Ancient_Greek"
],
[
"Greek alphabet",
"Greek alphabet"
],
[
"𐤀",
"𐤀#Phoenician"
],
[
"alif",
"alif#English"
],
[
"aleph",
"aleph#English"
]
],
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{
"pos": "noun",
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"The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.",
"Latin alpha: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ).",
"The name of the symbols Α and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix.",
"The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk."
],
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"pos": "adj",
"glosses": [
"Designates the first in an order of precedence.",
"Exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.",
"Designates some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation.",
"Clipping of alphabetical."
],
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"abbreviation",
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