{"def":{"short":"the first letter of the alphabet; figuratively, only (from its use as a numeral) the first","long":["first letter of Greek alphabet","Christ is the Alpha to indicate that he is the beginning and the end"]},"deriv":"of Hebrew origin","pronun":{"ipa":"ˈɑl.fɑ","ipa_mod":"ˈɑl.fɑ","sbl":"alpha","dic":"AL-fa","dic_mod":"AL-fa"},"see":["G0260","G0427"],"comment":"Often used (usually ἄν, before a vowel) also in composition (as a contraction from G0427) in the sense of privation; so, in many words, beginning with this letter; occasionally in the sense of union (as a contraction of G0260)."}