an \an\, conj. shortened fr. and, oe. an., and, sometimes and
   if, in introducing conditional clauses, like icel. enda if,
   the same word as and. prob. and was originally pleonastic
   before the conditional clause.
   if; -- a word used by old english authors. --shak.
   1913 webster

         nay, an thou dalliest, then i am thy foe. --b. jonson.
   1913 webster

   an if, and if; if.
      1913 webster
see also:
an if 

an \an\ a^n. as. =an one, the same word as the numeral.
   see one, and cf. a.
   this word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called
   the indefinite article. it is used before nouns of the
   singular number only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat
   less emphatically. in such expressions as "twice an hour,"
   "once an age," a shilling an ounce see 2d a, 2, it has a
   distributive force, and is equivalent to each, every.
   1913 webster

   note: an is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound;
         as, an enemy, an hour. it in also often used before h
         sounded, when the accent of the word falls on the
         second syllable; as, an historian, an hyena, an heroic
         deed. many writers use a before h in such positions.
         anciently an was used before consonants as well as
         vowels.
         1913 webster
see also:
one a 

an
     n : an associate degree in nursing syn: associate in nursing
see also:
associate in nursing 

an
     access node
     
     

an
     alternating network
     
     

an
     
         the country code for the netherlands antilles
        dutch antilles.
     
        1999-01-27
     
     
see also:
country code 

an, jour, et waste. see year, day, and waste.