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Does anyone know this usage? Can't find it anywhere, tho' it existed in Latin. Grateful for any hints (surely it can't stand alone? I'd find it unfair if taken from a longer exp.)

I've never heard of it's use that way.

could it just be from the A in eg, Thomas Becket known as Thomas a Becket??

Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary (2010 edition) gives "A" as the first example under the entry for "from".

Chambers 12th edition shows:
a (preposition) from
as in Thomas a Kempsis
The a is accented as in French grammar

You're right, AB, but surely that only occurs in Latin expressions, never alone? I find that a bit far-fetched even for the Listener, which I ventured to do this week. Can't say I'm very impressed: several clues read abominably, e.g.
"Swinish family OF HERSELF are (dying=doing) in Glasgow"
--- not to mention the atmosphere of that very exclusive club of course..............

Thank you, Jazzy --- more impressed by your hwk than by the setter's skill(s)...............

Thomas à Kempis

.............even more impressed by your accent..........

GK iI had to google "hwk" That's how much of a dinosaur I am ;)