An
/ən/noun
A form of the indefinite article used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
Did you know?The word 'an' traces back to Old English, where it served as a marker of indefiniteness, symbolizing the beginnings of existence itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*oi-nu
“a term denoting a singular entity or one thing.”
Old English
Old English
ān
“one, a single; used to indicate a singular, indefinite item.”
Middle English
Middle English
an
“the form of 'one' used before vowels.”
Modern English
English
an
“the indefinite article used before vowels.”