Ajoint

/əˈdʒɔɪnt/ adverb

Definition

Apart; disjointed; not joined together or working as one unit.

Etymology

From a- (apart) + joint. An obsolete or archaic English formation meaning to put out of joint or separate, influenced by the prefix structure common in Old French.

Kelly Says

Medieval English loved adding 'a-' to make verbs with that meaning 'into a state of,' so 'ajoint' meant 'to make separate'—it's why we have 'afoot,' 'aboard,' and 'alight,' remnants of this productive linguistic pattern.

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