Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Latin
Origin: Greek

alpha

 noun
     
Related topics: Letters and punctuation
al‧pha [countable usually singular]
1SLASLA the first letter of the Greek alphabet
2

the alpha and omega

formal the start and finish of something, and therefore the whole of it:
Collective bargaining was viewed as the alpha and omega of trade unionism.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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