Al'pha, n.

n. [Lat. alpha, Gr. ἄλφα, Heb. áleph, from aleph, eleph, ox, either because the figure of this letter in the Phoenician alphabet resembled the head of an ox, or, more probably, because the name of the animal commenced with this letter; Ar. alif, elif.] The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and hence used to denote first or beginning. “I am Alpha and Omega.” Rev. i. 8.

☞ It was formerly used also to denote chief; as, Plato was the Alpha of the wits.