(n.) is the second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to Pronunciation, // 196, 220.) It is etymologically related to p, v, f, w and m , letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear and Lat. ferre; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and It. gomito; Eng. seven, Anglo-Saxon seofon, Ger. sieben, Lat. septem, Gr. epta`, Sanskrit saptan. The form of letter B is Roman, from Greek B (Beta), of Semitic origin. The small b was formed by gradual change from the capital B.
Thesaurus Entries
B, Janus-like, Maecenas, OK, abettor, abundant year, academic year, accept, accredit, acolyte, adjutant, admirer, advance, advocate, affirm, aficionado, agent, aid, aide, aide-de-camp, aider, alternate, alternative, ambidextrous, amen, angel, annum, another, apologist, approve, approve of, assign, assist, assistant, attendant, authenticate, authorize, autograph, auxiliary, back, back up, backer, best man, bifacial, bifold, biform, bilateral, binary, binate, biparous, bissextile year, bivalent, breath, buff, calendar month, calendar year, century, certify, champion, coadjutant, coadjutor, coadjutress, coadjutrix, common year, conduplicate, confirm, consecutive intervals, cosign, countersign, coup, crack, day, decade, decennary, decennium, defective, defective year, defender, degree, dependence, deputy, diapason, diatessaron, diatonic interval, diatonic semitone, disomatous, double, double-faced, dual, duple, duplex, duplicate, encourage, encourager, endorse, endorser, enharmonic diesis, enharmonic interval, espouse, executive officer, exponent, fan, favor, favorer, fifth, fiscal year, flash, following, fortnight, fourth, friend at court, geminate, geminated, get behind, get in behind, girl Friday, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, go along with, half a jiffy, half a mo, half a second, half a shake, half step, halftone, help, helper, helpmate, helpmeet, hour, initial, instant, interval, irregular, jiff, jiffy, later, leap year, less semitone, lieutenant, lover, lunar month, lunar year, lunation, luster, lustrum, mainstay, maintainer, man Friday, man-hour, melodic interval, microsecond, millennium, millisecond, minute, moment, month, moon, move, newer, next, notarize, note, number two, octave, other, parallel octaves, paranymph, paraprofessional, partisan, pass, pass on, pass upon, patron, patronize, permit, promote, promoter, protagonist, quarter, quinquennium, ratify, regular year, reliance, relocate, right hand, rubber stamp, run interference for, sanction, say amen to, schlock, schmatte, seal, sec, second-best, secondarily, secondary, seconder, secondly, sectary, semester, semitone, servant, session, seventh, shake, shift, side with, sideman, sider, sidereal year, sign, sign and seal, sixth, solar year, split second, sponsor, stalwart, stand back of, stand behind, stand by, stand-in, standby, step, stick by, stick up for, stroke, subordinate, subscribe to, subsequent, substitute, sun, support, supporter, supporting actor, supporting instrumentalist, surrogate, sustainer, swear and affirm, swear to, sympathizer, take sides with, term, third, tick, tone, transfer, trice, trimester, twelvemonth, twin, twink
