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“Time’s a-wasting, time’s a-wasting”.
I heard on the radio sth like “Time’s a-wasting, time’s a-wasting”. I am no sure abt the spelling. Its meaning is clear but why such a strange construction? How could it be defined grammatically? I also heard another in a song, can’t remember now.
Could anybody please clarify that for me?
Tnx.
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Re: “Time’s a-wasting, time’s a-wasting”.
Hello Humble
The a- prefix is a relic of the Old English preposition "on", which in this sense meant "engaged in" or "in the process of".
It's quite common as an old-fashioned-sounding (or sometimes jocular) prefix to a gerund:
1. That set me a-thinking = that set me on thinking = that made me engaged-in-thinking.
2. Time is a-passing = Time is in the process of passing.
3. I was a-walking down the road, when a girl... = I was engaged in walking down the road, when a girl...
It's also hidden in many other words, such as "asleep" (engaged in sleep), "adrift" (in the process of drifting), "afoot" (on foot), etc.
So in your example, it would mean:
4. Time is in the process of wasting (i.e. being wasted).
All the best,
MrP
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Re: “Time’s a-wasting, time’s a-wasting”.
A wonderful explanation, MrPedantic. Tnx a lot!
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