at

UK: æt | US: æt

Definition

  1. prep. used to indicate a point in space or time

  2. prep. used to indicate a target or direction

  3. prep. used to indicate a state or condition

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word "at" originates from Old English æt, a preposition with Germanic roots (cf. Old Norse at, Gothic at). It has retained its core function as a locative and temporal marker for over a millennium, reflecting its stability as a grammatical "anchor" in English. Unlike compound prepositions (e.g., "inside"), "at" resists decomposition due to its ancient, monosyllabic form.

Examples

  1. She waited at the bus stop.

  2. The meeting starts at 3 PM.

  3. He laughed at the joke.

  4. They are good at solving puzzles.

  5. Look at the stars tonight.