From Middle Englishat, from Old Englishæt(“at, near, by, toward”), from Proto-Germanic*at(“at, near, to”), from Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd(“near, at”). Cognate with Scotsat(“at”), North Frisianäät, äit, et, it(“at”), Danishat(“to”), Swedishåt(“for, toward”), Norwegianåt(“to”), Faroeseat(“at, to, toward”), Icelandicað(“to, towards”), Gothic𐌰𐍄(at, “at”), Latinad(“to, near”).
Preposition
at
In, near, or in the general vicinity of a particular place.
“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
1919, Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "The Life of Cicero", 43 (Bernadotte Perrin, trans.)
"Hirtius and Pansa, who were good men and admirers of Cicero, begged him not to desert them, and undertook to put down Antony if Cicero would remain at Rome."
2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
Today my friend Marsha is at her friend's house.
(indicating time)Indicating occurrence in an instant of time or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker's perspective.
1838, The Family Magazine
Lafayette was major-general in the American army at the age of 18 […]
2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
Hi, Anne. Are you busy? — Hi, Anna. Yes. At 10 a.m. I am writing.
In the direction of (often in an unfocused or uncaring manner).
“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”
Denotes a price.
Occupied in (activity).
In a state of.
Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
Because of.
Indicates a means, method, or manner.
Holding a given speed or rate.
(used for skills (including in activities) or areas of knowledge) On the subject of; regarding.
2015, Sanyan Stories: Favorites from a Ming Dynasty Collection →ISBN, page 157:
She's good at playing musical instruments, singing and dancing, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
(Ireland, stressed pronunciation) Bothering, irritating, causing discomfort to
1995 Keith Wood, quoted in David Hughes, "Wood odds-on to take one against the head", in The Independent (London) 18 January:
I think `Jesus, my back is at me'. Then I get the ball. Off you go for 10 yards and you don't feel a thing. Then you stop and think: `Jesus, it's at me again'[.]
2014 Marian Keyes "Antarctic Diary - Part 2" personal website (January 2014):
He seems to be saying. “Ah, go on, you’re making the other lads feel bad.” But the 4th fella says, “No. Don’t be ‘at’ me. I’m just not in the form right now, I’ll stay where I am, thanks.”
Usage notes
He threw the ball to me — (so I could catch it).
He threw the ball at me — (trying to hit me with it).
He talked to her — (conversationally).
He shouted at her — (aggressively).
Translations
Noun
at (pluralats)
The at sign (@).
Translations
Verb
at (third-person singular simple presentats, present participleatting, simple past and past participleatted)
(informal, neologism)Rare form of @; to reply to or talk to someone, either online or face-to-face. (from the practice of targeting a message or reply to someone online by writing @name)
Usage notes
Chiefly used in the phrase "don't @ me"/"don't at me". It can be used humorously when stated after an unpopular or ironic opinion, to forestall dissent.
Etymology 2
Pronoun
at
(Northern England, rare, possibly obsolete)Alternative form of 'at(relative pronoun; reduced form of "that" and/or "what")
1860, Robert Gordon Latham, Song of Solomon, as spoken in Durham [by Thomas Moore], in A hand-book of the English language:
Tak us t' foxes, t' little foxes at spoils t' veynes: fer our veynes hev tender grapes.
Etymology 3
Noun
at (pluralatsorat)
Alternative form of att(Laos currency unit)
Anagrams
T&A, T.A., T/A, TA, ta
Azerbaijani
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ɑt/
Etymology 1
From Proto-Turkic*at(“horse”).
Noun
at (definite accusativeatı, pluralatlar)
horse
(chess) knight
Declension
See also
References
Further reading
“at” in Obastan.com.
Etymology 2
Verb
at
second-person singular imperative of atmaq
Chuukese
Noun
at
boy
Danish
Etymology 1
From Old Norseat, cf. Swedishatt, Norwegianat. Probably from Proto-Germanic*þat, a demonstrative pronoun used as a conjunction, compare Englishthat, Germandass, Dutchdat.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [a(d̥)]
Conjunction
at
that(introduces a noun clause functioning as the subject, object or predicative of a verb, or as the object of a prepositional phrase)
1986, Knud Erik Larsen, Bare ikke om søndagen / https://books.google.dk/books?id=DedIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT85:
Knud hørte, at bedstefaren lagde værktøjet fra sig
Knud heard that his grandfather put down the tool.
1876, J.P. Jacobsen, Fru Marie Grubbe, vol. 1, p. 67 / https://books.google.dk/books?id=VdK9DgAAQBAJ&pg=PT59:
Hun var overbevist om at det var sandt.
She was convinced that it was true.
(archaic)that, in order that, so that(introduces an adverbial clause stating the purpose)
1856, Christian Winther, Hr. Peder Jernskjæg, from Hjortens Flugt / https://kalliope.org/da/text/winther2018100610:
Og Hjorten vil jeg fange, | At Korset jeg kan faae.
And the deer, I will catch, that I may win the cross.
1987, Thomas Bruun, Et paradisisk blik. Humoresker og grotesker:
det er helvedes svært, at du bare ved det.
it is damned difficult, just that you know it.
Synonym:for at
that, so that(introduces an adverbial clause stating the result, normally after a demonstrative adverb or pronoun)
1902, Karin Michaëlis, Barnet / https://books.google.dk/books?id=A_4kDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT62:
Jeg er saa fattig, at jeg sulter paa Sjæl og Legeme.
I am so poor that I starve in my soul and my body.
Synonyms:så at, således at
that, why(introducing an independent clause, expressing passion, surprise, anger, or joy)
1901, Herman Bang, Det graa Hus / https://books.google.dk/books?id=xpqmDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT26:
At De kan synge saa tidligt om Morgenen.
That you can sing that early in the morning.
(proscribed)added pleonastically to other conjunctions: fordi at, hvis at, når at
2009, Frank Colding, Sejleren, p. 32 / https://books.google.dk/books?id=HCNperkZeKIC&pg=PA32:
Forbavset aner min forstand, | at denne scenes sære magt | kun begribes, hvis at man | bevæger sig i dansetakt.
Astonished, my mind senses that the strange power of this scene can only be understood if one moves in dance steps.
References
“at,1” in Den Danske Ordbog
“at,1” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog
Etymology 2
From Old Norseat, cognate with Swedishatt, Norwegianå. Originally the samme word as the preposition Old Norseat(“at, to”), from Proto-Germanic*at, cognate with Englishat. Doublet of ad). In the West Germanic languages, a different preposition, *tō(“to”), serves as the infinitive marker, cf Englishto, Germanzu, Dutchte.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [ad̥], [a], [ʌ]
Homophone: og
Particle
at
to(infinitive-marker, obligatory when the infinitive functions as noun phrase or an adverbial phrase, but omitted when it is governed by a modal verb)
introducing an adverb of direction after a phrase that normally governs an infinitive (which may be understood elliptically)
1992, Thøger Birkeland, Bette Nielses krig:
Mon de da ikke snart skulle til at hjemad!
Aren't they going to go home soon!
References
“at,2” in Den Danske Ordbog
“at,2” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog
Dutch
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ɑt/
Rhymes: -ɑt
Verb
at
singular past indicative of eten
first-, second- and third-person singular present indicative of atten
imperative of atten
Eastern Durango Nahuatl
Noun
at
water
Egyptian
Romanization
at
Manuel de Codage transliteration of ꜥt.
Faroese
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ɛaːʰt/
Rhymes: -ɛaːʰt
Homophone: æt
Etymology 1
From Old Norseat.
Preposition
at
(with dative)at, towards, to
Etymology 2
From Old Norseat(“that”), from Proto-Germanic*þat(“that”). Cognate with Middle Englishat(“that”, conjunction and relative pronoun), Scotsat(“that”, conjunction and relative pronoun). More at that.
Conjunction
at
that
Etymology 3
From Old Norseat(“at, to”), from Proto-Germanic*at(“at, to”). More at at.
Particle
at
to A particle used to mark the following verb as an infinitive.
Friulian
Etymology
From Latinactus; cf. Italianatto.
Noun
atm (pluralats)
act, action, deed
Related terms
azion
Gothic
Romanization
at
Romanization of 𐌰𐍄
Icelandic
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /aːt/
Rhymes: -aːt
Noun
atn (genitive singularats, nominative pluralöt)
fight
Declension
Irish
Pronunciation
(Munster, Aran) IPA(key): /ɑt̪ˠ/
(Connemara, Mayo, Ulster) IPA(key): /at̪ˠ/
Etymology 1
From Old Irishatt(“swelling, protuberance, tumour”).
Noun
atm (genitive singular as substantiveait, genitive as verbal nounata, nominative pluralatanna)
swelling
1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, vol. II, p. 11:
tā at ə l̄āv m inīnə.
conventional orthography:Tá at i lámh m’iníne.
My daughter has a swelling on her hand.
1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, vol. II, p. 11:
tā šȧxt n-at i n-ə wunāl.
conventional orthography:Tá seacht n-at ina mhuineál.
He has seven swellings on his neck.
1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, vol. II, p. 11:
kiŕ də lāv ə n̄-isḱə leš n̥ t-at ə wȳlū.
conventional orthography:Cuir do lámh in uisce leis an t-at a maolú.
Put your hand in water to reduce the swelling.
verbal noun of at
Declension
Etymology 2
From Old Irishattaid(“swells, dilates, increases”, verb), from att(“swelling, protuberance, tumour”).
Verb
at (present analyticatann, future analyticatfaidh, verbal nounat, past participleata)
(intransitive) swell
1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, vol. II, p. 11:
tā ə h-ēdn̥ atī.
conventional orthography:Tá a héadan ataithe.
Her face is swollen.
1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, vol. II, p. 11:
tā mə lāv atī.
conventional orthography:Tá mo lámh ataithe.
My hand is swollen.
Synonym:borr
(intransitive) bloat
(intransitive, of sea) heave
Conjugation
Alternative past participle: ataithe
Mutation
Further reading
"at" in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “att”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “attaid”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
“at” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 1st ed., 1904, by Patrick S. Dinneen, page 42.
“ataim” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 2nd ed., 1927, by Patrick S. Dinneen.
Entries containing “at” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.
Ladin
Etymology
From Latinactus.
Noun
atm (pluralac)
act
action
work
Latin
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
(Classical) IPA(key): /at/, [at̪]
(Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /at/, [at̪]
Conjunction
at
but, yet
whereas
Synonyms
ast
sed
tamen(postpositive)
Derived terms
atquī
References
at in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
at in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
at in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press
at in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
Livonian
Alternative forms
attõ, āt, ātõ
Verb
at
3rd person plural present indicative form ofvȱlda
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old Englishæt, from Proto-Germanic*at, from Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd.
Alternative forms
et, ed
Preposition
at
at
Descendants
English: at
Scots: at
Yola: adh
References
“at, prep.” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Etymology 2
From Old Norseat.
Particle
at
(Northern, northern East Midlands) to (infinitive-marker)
References
“at, adv.” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Min Nan
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
From Old Norseat. Cognate with Danishat and Swedishatt.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /at/, [ɑt]
Conjunction
at
that
References
“at” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
From Old Norseat. Cognate with Danishat and Swedishatt.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ɑtː/
Homophone: att
Conjunction
at
that
References
“at” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
Old Irish
Alternative forms
it (second-person singular)
ata (third-person plural relative)
Pronunciation
(second-person singular): IPA(key): /at/
(third-person plural relative): IPA(key): /ad/
Verb
at
inflection of is:
second-person singular present indicative
third-person plural present indicative relative
Old Norse
Etymology 1
From Proto-Germanic*atǭ. Related to Old Englishetja.
Noun
atn (genitiveats, pluralǫt)
conflict, fight, battle
Declension
Descendants
Icelandic: at
Etymology 2
From Proto-Germanic*þat(“that”). Cognate with Old Englishþæt, Gothic𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰(þata).
Conjunction
at
that
since, because, as
Descendants
Etymology 3
From Proto-Germanic*at(“at, to”). Cognate with Old Englishæt, Old Frisianet, Old Saxonat, Old High Germanaz, Gothic𐌰𐍄(at).
Particle
at
to (infinitive particle)
Descendants
Preposition
at
at, to
Descendants
References
at in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
at in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
at in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press
at in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
Pipil
Etymology
From Proto-Nahuan*aatl, from Proto-Uto-Aztecan*pa-ta.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /aːt/
Noun
āt (pluralajāt)
water
Pnar
Etymology
From Proto-Khasian*ʔa:t, from Proto-Mon-Khmer*as ~ ʔəs. Cognate with Khasiat, Riang [Sak] ʔas¹, Nyaheunʔaːjh, Pacohayh, Semaias.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /at/
Verb
at
to swell
Pochutec
Etymology
From Proto-Nahuan*aatl, from Proto-Uto-Aztecan*pa-ta.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈat/
Noun
at
water
References
Boas, Franz (July 1917) , “El Dialecto mexicano de Pochutla, Oaxaca”, in International Journal of American Linguistics (in Spanish), volume 1, issue 1, DOI:10.1086/463709, JSTOR 1263398, pages 9–44
Knab, Tim (July 1980) , “When is a language really dead: The case of Pochutec”, in International Journal of American Linguistics, volume 46, issue 3, DOI:10.1086/465658, JSTOR 1264741, pages 230–233
Scots
Preposition
at
at
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology 1
From Old Irishatt.
Noun
atm
swelling, tumour
protuberance, prominence
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Old Irishattaid(“swells, dilates, increases”, verb), from att(“swelling, protuberance, tumour”).
Verb
at (pastdh'at, futureataidh, verbal nounatoratadh, past participleathte)
swell, fester, puff up, become tumid
Mutation
Further reading
“at” in Edward Dwelly, Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated [Scottish] Gaelic–English Dictionary, 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, 1911, →ISBN.
Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “att”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “attaid”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Selaru
Etymology
From Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian*əpat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*əpat, from Proto-Austronesian*Səpat.
Numeral
at
four
Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
Borrowed from Ottoman Turkishآت (at).
Noun
atm (Cyrillic spellingат)
steed
Arabian (horse)
Declension
Derived terms
Simeulue
Etymology
From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*əpat, from Proto-Austronesian*Səpat.
Numeral
at
four
Tagalog
Alternative forms
't(enclitic, after words ending with vowel, usually informal)
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ʔat/, [ʔɐt]
Conjunction
at
and
Synonym:saka
See also
saka
at saka
t'saka
tsaka
Tocharian B
Etymology
An apocopated form of ate(“id”)
Adverb
at
away
Further reading
Adams, Douglas Q. (2013) , “at”, in A Dictionary of Tocharian B: Revised and Greatly Enlarged (Leiden Studies in Indo-European; 10), Amsterdam, New York: Rodopi, →ISBN, page 9
Torres Strait Creole
Etymology
From Englishheart.
Noun
at
heart
Turkish
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ät̪/
Etymology 1
From Ottoman Turkishآت (at, “horse”), from Proto-Turkic*at, *ăt(“horse”). Cognate with Karakhanidاَتْ (at, “horse”), Old Turkic𐱃 (at, “horse”).
Noun
at (definite accusativeatı, pluralatlar)
(zoology) horse
(chess) knight
Declension
Related terms
Etymology 2
Verb
at
second-person singular imperative of atmak
Further reading
at in Turkish dictionaries at Türk Dil Kurumu
Turkmen
Etymology 1
From Proto-Turkic*at, *ăt(“horse”).
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /at/
Noun
at (definite accusativeady, pluralatlar)
horse
Declension
Etymology 2
From Proto-Turkic*āt(“name”). Cognate with Old Turkic𐰀𐱃 (āt, “name”), Chuvashят(jat, “name”), Turkishad.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /aːt/
Noun
at (definite accusativeady, pluralatlar)
name
Declension
Volapük
Determiner
at
(demonstrative) this
Wakhi
Etymology
Cognate with Yagnobiашт(ašt).
Numeral
at
eight
Welsh
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /at/
Preposition
at (triggers soft mutation)
to, towards
for
at
by
Inflection
West Frisian
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ɔt/
Conjunction
at
if
Synonym:as
Further reading
“at”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011
Wolof
Pronunciation
Noun
at
year
Yola
Etymology 1
From Middle Englishthat, from Old Englishþæt, from Proto-Germanic*þat.
Conjunction
at
that, which
Determiner
at
that
Etymology2
From Middle Englisheten, from Old Englishetan, from Proto-Germanic*etaną.
Alternative forms
ayth
Verb
at (present participleatheen)
to eat, ate
References
Jacob Poole (1867) , William Barnes, editor, A glossary, with some pieces of verse, of the old dialect of the English colony in the baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, J. Russell Smith, →ISBN