at

The at sign (@).

Noun

  1. The at sign (@).

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Germanic *at Old English æt Middle English at English at From Middle English at, from Old English æt (“at, near, by, toward”), from Proto-West Germanic *at, from Proto-Germanic *at (“at, near, to”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“near, at”). Cognate with Scots at (“at”), North Frisian äät, äit, et, it (“at”), Danish at (“to”), Swedish åt (“for, toward”), Norwegian åt (“to”), Faroese at (“at, to, toward”), Icelandic að (“to, towards”), Gothic 𐌰𐍄 (at, “at”), Latin ad (“to, near”).

Forms

ats

Noun alt of, alternative

  1. Alternative form of att (Laos currency unit)

Forms

ats at

Preposition

  1. In, near, or in the general vicinity of (a particular place).
    • Caesar was at Rome.
    • A climate treaty was signed at Kyoto in 1997.
    • I was at Jim’s house at the corner of Fourth Street and Vine.

    1. Attending (an educational institution).

      • She's at Oxford University, studying chemistry.

    2. Working for (a company) or in (a place or situation).

      • He used to be at Lehman Brothers. Now he's at Merrill Lynch.
      • 'Where does he work?' — 'I think he's still at the solicitors.'

    3. Indicating distance or direction relative to the speaker.

      • Target at five miles. Prepare torpedoes.
      • Look out! UFO at two o'clock!
  2. Present or taking place during (an event).
    • Was he at the meeting?
    • There was a big fight at the class reunion.
  3. Indicating time of occurrence, especially an instant of time, or a period of time relatively short in context or from the speaker’s perspective.
    • at six o’clock; at dawn; at closing time; at the age of twelve; at night; at the moment
    • Lafayette was major-general in the American army at the age of 18 […] - 1838, The Family Magazine:
    • Other global taboos, such as sex and suicide, manifest themselves widely online, with websites offering suicide guides and Hot XXX Action seconds away at the click of a button. The UK government will come under pressure...

    1. (UK, Commonwealth, Ireland, especially finance and law) (also as at; before dates) On (a particular date).

      • balance as at 20th March 1999 - n.d., quoted in Longmans Business Dictionary
      • at the date of the commencement of the proceedings before the judicial or administrative authority of the Contracting State where the child is - 1980 October 25, “Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of...
  4. In the direction of; towards; (often implied to be in a hostile or careless manner).
    • Don’t just talk at someone; really listen to what they have to say.
    • Stones were thrown at us, but we couldn't see who did.
    • He shouted at her.
  5. Indicating action bearing upon something, especially continued or repeated action.
    • Don't pick at your food!
    • My cat keeps scratching at the furniture.
    • I was working at the problem all day.
  6. In response or reaction to.
    • At my request, they agreed to move us to another hotel.
    • He jumped at the sudden noise.
    • We laughed at the joke.
  7. Occupied in (activity).
    • men at work; children at play
  8. In a state of.
    • The two countries are at war.
    • She is at sixes and sevens with him.
    • They are at loggerheads over how best to tackle the fiscal cliff.
  9. Subject to.
    • We hope that the event will go ahead, but we are at the whim of the weather.
    • The city was at the mercy of the occupying forces.
  10. Denotes a price.
    • 3 apples at 2¢ (each)
    • The offer was at $30,000 before negotiations.
  11. Indicates a position on a scale or in a series.
    • Sell at $90.
    • Tiger finished the round at tenth, seven strokes behind the leaders.
    • I’m offering it—just to select customers—at cost.
  12. In certain phrases, used to indicate the manner in which something happens or is done.
    • The car came towards me at speed.
    • He spoke at great length on the topic.
    • The winner will be chosen at random.

Derived

at bank atmark atone atonement Atwater eat away at hereat thereat whereat where it's at

Pronoun

  1. Alternative form of 'at (relative pronoun; reduced form of “that” and/or “what”).
    • Tak us t’ foxes, t’ little foxes at spoils t’ veynes: fer our veynes hev tender grapes. - 1860, Robert Gordon Latham, Song of Solomon, as spoken in Durham [by Thomas Moore], in A hand-book of the English language

Verb

  1. Rare form of @; to reply to or talk to someone, either online or face-to-face. (from the practice of targeting a message or reply to someone online by writing @name)
    • If you have questions or observations on my discussion questions, feel free to reply to this email, at me on Twitter, or comment on the companion post on AMV. - 2022, William Morris, Motley Vision:

Forms

ats atting atted