A a, — al'-fah; of Hebrew origin; the first letter of the alphabet; figurative only (from its use as a numeral) the first: — Alpha. Often used (usually ajn an, before a vowel) also in composition (as a contraction from (427) (a neu,)) in the sense of privation; so in many words beginning with this letter; occasionally in thesense of union (as a contraction of (260) (a ma)).