אִרְיָא, (אֲרִי, אֲרָא) pointing at, argument, topic, subject. Kerith. 3ᵇ גבי כריתות דאי׳ וכ׳ in speaking of K’rithoth, where this (the punishment of extinction) is the subject proper, I may say, the general term of Sabbath &c. is introduced (relying on those places in the Mishnah where the respective laws are treated in detail). Yoma 74ᵃ, a. fr. אי משום הא לא א׳ were it only for this, there would be no argument (no difficulty). Kerith. 18ᵃ, a. fr. מאי א׳ כי וכ׳ why is the argument brought up only on the presumption (that he has eaten? Supposed, he had not eaten, would not the same argument hold good?). Sabb. 101ᵃ, a. fr. מידי א׳ is this an argument (i.e. how can you compare two cases so unlike each other)?