-a en · X · etymology 5
Pronunciation
- /ə/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- /eɪ/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Added especially for metrical reasons, or as an empty filler syllable.
Meanings
-
(morpheme) Added for metrical reasons to songs, poetry and verse, or as an empty filler syllable to other speech.
"I'm-a tell-a you why you better be. I named you in my will, Franco."
2014, Don Pendleton, California Hit, Open Road Media, →ISBN:A merry heart goes all the day Your sad tires in a mile-a
c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:Buying bread from a man in Brussels He was six-foot-four and full of muscle I said, "Do you speak-a my language?" He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich […]
1981, Colin Hay, Ron Strykert, performed by Men At Work, Down Under:I love to sing-a / about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a, / I love to sing-a / about a sky of blue-a, or a tea for two-a.
1936 July 18, Leon Schlesinger (producer) / Norman Spencer (music), I Love to SingaI wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna really wanna be just like the Lord So every day Im gonna gonna read the Book and rest upon-a God's own holy Word Of good in me there's none-a none-a that's okay because I'm gonna trust upon the work that's done-a on the Cross and Jesus is the one-a one-a God the Father's Son-a Son-a and my sin He cures!
1980s, Herb Owen, “Wanna”, in Kids Sing Praise, performed by Kids Sing Praise: