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A hidden long a.
Also known as: Superscript alif, Small vertical stroke
The Arabic mark writing a long a in words whose spelling omits the letter alif.
Writes a long a in words whose conventional spelling does not include the letter alif.
Contexts: Language and transcription
Preserves spellings fixed before the orthography settled, so the mark is a patch over a frozen archaism — the reason the name of God and a handful of common words are spelled as they are.
Contexts: Language and transcription
A short upright stroke set above the letter, shorter and lighter than a written alif.