ANYTHING is a 8 letter word that starts with A.

1. \A"ny*thing\, n.
   1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; thing of
      any kind; something or other; aught; as, I would not do it
      for anything.
            Did you ever know of anything so unlucky? --A.
                                                  Trollope.
            They do not know that anything is amiss with them.
                                                  --W. G.
                                                  Sumner.
   2. Expressing an indefinite comparison; -- with as or like.
      [Colloq. or Lowx]
            I fear your girl will grow as proud as anything.
                                                  --Richardson.
   Note: Any thing, written as two words, is now commonly used
         in contradistinction to any person or anybody. Formerly
         it was also separated when used in the wider sense.
         ``Necessity drove them to undertake any thing and
         venture any thing.'' --De Foe.
   {Anything but}, not at all or in any respect. ``The battle
      was a rare one, and the victory anything but secure.''
      --Hawthorne.
   {Anything like}, in any respect; at all; as, I can not give
      anything like a fair sketch of his trials.
   

2. \A"ny*thing\, adv.
   In any measure; anywise; at all.
         Mine old good will and hearty affection towards you is
         not . . . anything at all quailed.       --Robynson
                                                  (More's
                                                  Utopia).