Explanation of "a" in "a-basking"

Question

It is the first time I have encountered such a use of "a" combined with an -ing form.Maybe you will be a-basking in the sun this afternoon. Is there any reasonable explanation?

There are different hystorical explanatios , but non of them is definitive. — mido mido, Oct 20 '15 at 19:17

score -2 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 20 '15 at 18:34

-2

It is a southern reference, without reason. You might go a-huntin' for rabbits, or be a-baskin' in the sun. I spend time correcting my southern influenced grammar and vocabulary, I will have to watch out for this one.

answered Oct 20 '15 at 18:34

Lama

1

1

-1 for "without reason". Josh61's comment, above, included a link to a reasonable explanation before you posted this answer. – Kristina Lopez Oct 20 '15 at 19:16
Lama, do you think it is used only in southern American dialects. – mido mido Oct 20 '15 at 19:23

Explanation of "a" in "a-basking"

1 Answers1