Of an
From Fresh Dictionary
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English
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Prepositional phrase
of an, or of a before vowels. See an for further information.
- (idiomatic{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}) Belonging to the same.
- The two main players were roughly of an age.
- (idiomatic{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}) Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.
- Of an evening, I like to play chess. i.e., On some evenings, I like to play chess.
- Of a morning, they would work in their garden. i.e., They generally worked in their garden in the morning.
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Usage Note
The first sense functions as an adjective and is generally used with be. The second sense functions as an adverb.
The phrase of a can also occur naturally in a prepositional phrase using of (e.g., the shell of an egg).