Dictionary

a-word en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (euphemistic) A bad word that starts with the letter a, such as ass/arse or asshole/arsehole.
2. (euphemistic) The word alleluia, typically in the context of Lent since the Lenten liturgies of various Christian churches omit the alleluia.
   • It was Lent; “alleluia” is not sung in the Catholic church during Lent. I told her Babloo liked songs with the “A-word.” 2008, Mary Poplin, Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service, →ISBN, page 71:
   • What we give up — the A-word. […] I added what we call the A-word in Lent, since we stop saying “a-l-l-e-l-u-i-a” for this season (Shhhh!). 2022 April 1, Keith Dorwick, “Deeper and deeper into Lenten quiet”, in Peninsula Daily News:
   • My congregation is frustrated because we can’t sing carols during Advent, and now we can’t say the A-word [Alleluia] during Lent. 2009, Melinda A. Quivik, Serving the Word, →ISBN, page 43:
3. Any word beginning with a that is not normally taboo but is considered (often humorously) to be so in the given context.
   • Most of the candidates have skirted the AIDS issue as much as possible, mentioning the "A word" only when asked a direct question. 1988 February 21, Chris Bull, “Pressing the Candidates On AIDS”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 31, page 11:
   • Specialists sometimes choose PDD-NOS instead of an autism diagnosis because they are afraid that the “a-word” frightens patients. 2010, Ken Siri, “Diagnosis and Evaluation—Formation”, in 1,001 Tips for the Parents of Autistic Boys, page 17:

Forms

Relateds

r-word · i-word · n-word · y-word · r-slur · q-word · n-bomb · f-slur · j-word · p-word · f-word · x-word · w-word · o-word · e-word · d-word · b-word · k-word · v-word · u-word · s-word · Q-word · z-word · t-word · L-bomb · l-word · f-bomb · related terms C-bomb · h-word · g-word · G-word · Q-slur · m-word · c-word