Meaning of a-word | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A bad word that starts with the letter a, such as ass/arse or asshole/arsehole.
   euphemistic
2. The word alleluia, typically in the context of Lent since the Lenten liturgies of various Christian churches omit the alleluia.
   euphemistic
3. Any word beginning with a that is not normally taboo but is considered (often humorously) to be so in the given context.

Examples

“It was Lent; “alleluia” is not sung in the Catholic church during Lent. I told her Babloo liked songs with the “A-word.””

“My congregation is frustrated because we can’t sing carols during Advent, and now we can’t say the A-word [Alleluia] during Lent.”

“What we give up — the A-word. […] I added what we call the A-word in Lent, since we stop saying “a-l-l-e-l-u-i-a” for this season (Shhhh!).”

“Specialists sometimes choose PDD-NOS instead of an autism diagnosis because they are afraid that the “a-word” frightens patients.”

CEFR level