mod. Sc. form of northern ME. a, OE. án, one, used adjectively. See A adj.1
In ME. and early Sc., a was used bef. a cons., an, ane, bef. a vowel, and absolutely; in mid. Sc. ane was used in all positions and constructions; in mod. Sc. ae (the Sc. spelling of final a long) is used bef. a sb. however beginning, ane only absolutely: ‘he has ae hand, only ane.’
