alif, the first letter of the Arabic alphabet; in numeration it counts one. a or a-kūra, the first elementary sound in the Sanskrit alphabet: it is a name of God, or Vishnu. As an inseparable particle prefixed to a word, it signifies negation or privation; as, a-dharm, injustice, or irreligion, from dharm, justice, &c. It is akin to the alpha privativum of the Greek, the in of the Latin, or the un of the German and English. As in Greek, it becomes an before a vowel, as an-anta, endless, or without end.
اب
अब
Ab
h.
now, presently, just now, a little while ago; by adding kā, ke kī, it forms an adjective, as ab-kā zamānă, the present time.
اب
इब
Ib,
s.
thus, as, in like manner.
اب / ابو
Ab (contract. From),
a.
father. In Hindūstānī, the plural is of most frequent occurrence, as in ābā o ajdād, fathers and grandfathers, ancestors. A
آب
T
m.
water, splendour, elegance, dignity, lustre (in gems), temper (of steel, &c.), edge, sharpness (of a sword, &c.). The word āb in Persian is used in a great many metaphoric and idiomatic expressions. p.
ابا
Ibā,
m.
denial; ibā-k, to refuse, deny. a.
آبا / اب / ابو
ābā,
(pl. of, q.v.).
fathers. a.
ابابیل
Abābīl,
m,
a swallow, a.
اباحت
Ibāhat,
f.
permitting, giving liberty. a.
آباد
ābād,
NA
cultivated, peopled, pleasant; full of buildings and inhabitants; used in composition in the sense of city or ville, as akbar-ābād, the city of Akbar, or (a. the Americans would say) Akbar-ville, the city of Agra. P.