ahint.n.

Brit.

/ɑː/, U.S.

/ɑ/

Forms: Middle English– ah, 1500s ahe, 1800s– aah, 1900s– ahh. Forms with a or h occurring three or more times are also attested.

Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item; modelled on a French lexical item. Etymon: a int.¹

Etymology: Variant of a int.¹, after Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French a, ah (also ha : see ha int.), expressing variously imprecation, emphasis, joy, sadness, and anger. Compare classical Latin ā , āh , Old Occitan a , Catalan ah , expressing variously joy, sorrow, anger, surprise, and warning (14th cent.), Spanish ah , expressing admiration, wonder, and surprise (1200–50), Portuguese ah , expressing variously compassion, pain, impatience, joy, doubt, surprise, admiration, sadness, and irony (13th cent.), Italian ahi , expressing physical and emotional suffering (a1294). Compare O int. and n.² and oh int. and n.¹Middle English ā in this interjection did not generally undergo the Great Vowel Shift, apparently owing to its connection with the natural utterance which it ultimately represents (see a int.¹), although continuations of this word showing the results of its operation may perhaps be shown by some instances of ay int. and eigh int., and it is possible that some examples given here likewise represent pronunciations with /eː/ or /eɪ/. With use in ah me! (see senses A. 2a and A. 4) compare me pron.¹ 6b, and see discussion at that entry.

A. int.

1. Expressing entreaty, appeal, or remonstrance; (formerly also) †used to gain attention.With reference to gaining attention, N.E.D. (1884) notes: ‘North. dial. still have ā man!’

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [interjection] > emphasizing a following statement

whatOE

loOE

lookOE

aha1225

loura1225

halec1300

why1545

if (also and) you pleasec1563

ahem1606

I say1613

ahey1696

sithee1828

please it you1881

lookit1907

the mind > language > speech > request > [interjection] > expressions of request

aha1225

prithee?c1560

I pritheea1591

please1771

bambi2012

a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 63 (MED) Ah lauerd god her ure bone.

a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 45 (MED) Ah, feyre leuedis! be on war.

a1547 J. Redford Moral Play Wit & Sci. (1848) 3 Ah! syr, what tyme of day yst?

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) i. iii. 8 Ah Clifford, murther not this innocent Child.

1681 T. Otway Souldiers Fortune v. i. 70 Sir Jolly, ah, Sir Jolly, protect me or I'm ruin'd.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 130. ¶2 Ah Master says the Gypsie, that roguish Leer of yours makes a pretty Woman's Heart ake.

1774 H. Brooke Juliet Grenville (Dublin ed.) I. 174 Looking resentfully at me, Ah Letty, said he, is this the reception you give your Felix?

1837 Ld. Tennyson Oh! that 'twere Possible in Ld. Northampton Tribute 245 Ah God! that it were possible For one short hour to see The souls we loved.

1867 M. Arnold Parting in Empedocles on Etna 91 Ah, calm me! restore me! And dry up my tears.

1906 ‘H. Foulis’ Vital Spark 39 ‘Ah, Captain!’ I said, ‘that's bad! Poaching with a splash-net!’

1972 G. Lucas et al. Amer. Graffiti (film script) 40 Ah, Wendy, my old love, come back here and console me.

2007 D. M. Kiely & C. McKenna Dark Sacrament i. 80 Ah, please, Carmel! Don't start that old nonsense with me.

a. Expressing sorrow, distress, or regret. Now also: expressing resignation or exasperation.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > regret > exclamation of regret [interjection]

alack1447

ah1509

ocha1522

alack the day1565

ay me!1591

Ichabod1702

deary me!1785

the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > cry of grief > [interjection] > specific cry of grief

woeeOE

wellawayeOE

weilac1000

wellawayOE

wellaOE

woe is meOE

wummec1175

wia1200

outa1225

alas?c1225

walec1275

ac1300

whilec1402

ochonea1425

wellesay?1440

wannowec1450

helas1484

ah1509

ocha1522

ah me!a1547

wougha1556

eh1569

welladay1570

how1575

wellanear1581

ay me!1591

lasa1593

wella, welladay1601

good lack!1638

oime1660

pillaloo1663

wellanearing1683

lack-a-day1695

wasteheart1695

walya1724

lackadaisy1748

ochree1748

waesucks1773

well-a-winsa1774

ullagone1819

wirra1825

mavrone1827

wirrasthru1827

ototoi1877

wurra1898

1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. B.ii Ah my lorde yf thou hadde ben present and had herde this sorowfull cryes of her thy seruaunte.

c1550 Clariodus (1830) i. l. 922 Ah! sall I now forgoe my warld blise, That so we sould depairt.

1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xxii. 18 They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother, or ah sister.

a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in Wks. (1898) I. 33 Ah! art ye sunschyne of those machles beames In sorowes seas so suddenly gone doune?

1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. x. 632 Yet much I fear (ah may that Fear be vain).

1718 M. Prior Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 92 Ah Me! the blooming Pride of May, and That of Beauty are but One.

1765 J. Brown Christian Jrnl. 161 But ah what ravaging lusts..blood-guiltiness, and spiritual slavery, am I an awful scene of?

1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 55 Ah! much I envy thee, thy boys.

1846 Ld. Tennyson Golden Year in Poems (ed. 4) II. 90 Ah! when shall all men's good Be each man's rule.

1887 Relig. Herald 2 June Ah, the poor horses! how many a brutal kick and stripe they got.

1954 B. Frechtman & J. T. Nile tr. L.-F. Céline Guignol's Band 50 Ah! how I wish I were free!.. if I hadn't my job!

1968 H. S. Thompson Let. 13 Feb. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 37 Ah, damnit, my package of carbon paper slipped into a puddle of eucalyptus oil.

2000 T. A. Kessler D-Girl (HBO TV shooting script) 10 in Sopranos 2nd Ser. (O.E.D. Archive) Melfi. Are you angry with Anthony Jr. about the car? Tony. Aah, can't put the shit back in the donkey, boys'll be boys.

b. Now frequently in form aah (cf. argh int.). Expressing pain. Cf. ow int.

ΚΠ

1645 H. Burkhead Trag. Cola's Furie v. 59 Ah, I am wounded.

1679 A. Behn Feign'd Curtizans i. ii. 9 Ah my Belly, my Belly, Signior: ah, this Wind-Collick!

1783 R. Potter tr. Euripides Tragedies II. 154 Ah My sides! Oh how I long to change my place.

1850 Harper's Mag. July 176/2 Ah! it's more than I can bear. Don't touch it.

1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies iv. 164 He turned..and bit the professor's finger till it bled. ‘Oh! ah! yah!’ cried he.

1905 Cent. Mag. Nov. 191/1 She shook the wounded Indian roughly. ‘Ah—ah—ah!’ he groaned.

1982 F. McGuinness Factory Girls ii. 12/2 Aah! Did you jag me with that steel comb?

2008 G. McKnight Green-eyed Monster v. 59 Aah. Stop that. You're hurting me.

3. Expressing dislike, aversion, or contempt; (also) mockery or satisfaction at another's misfortune.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > exclamations of contempt [interjection]

prut?c1300

trutc1330

truptc1380

ahaa1400

tushc1440

puff1481

quotha?1520

ah?1526

ta ha1528

twish1577

blurt1592

gip1592

pish1592

tantia1593

(God) bless (also save) the mark1593

phah1593

marry come up1597

mew1600

pooh1600

marry muff1602

pew waw1602

ptish1602

pew1604

push1605

pshaw1607

tuh1607

pea1608

poh1650

pooh pooh1694

hoity-toity1695

highty-tighty1699

quoz?1780

indeed1834

shuck1847

skidoo1906

suck1913

zut1915

yah boo1921

pooey1927

ptui1930

snubs1934

upya1941

yah boo sucks1980

the mind > emotion > hatred > dislike > look expressive of displeasure or dislike > exclamation expressing aversion or dislike [interjection]

ah?1526

?1526 Complaynt Mary Magdaleyne in Chaucer's Bk. Fame (Pynson) sig. e.vi^v/1 Ah ye iewes, worse than dogges rabiate.

1580 Baret's Aluearie (rev. ed.) A 253 Ah, ah, I dye poore wench in laughing thee to scorne.

1611 Bible (King James) Mark xv. 29 Ah thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three dayes.

1684 B. Keach Progress Sin ii. 12 He hath cast him off, and turn'd him out of Paradise. Ah! How I laugh to see it?

1701 G. Farquhar Sir Harry Wildair iii. i. 21 Ah! I hate these Congregation-women. There's such a fuss and such a clutter about their Devotion.

?1794 C. Dibdin Rambooze 3 Ah! you've nothing to do but get drunk with Rambooze.

c1820 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches (1837) II. 147 Ah! the unwordy rascal!

1887 H. R. Haggard She xxvi. 294 She lay still before us,..no larger than a big monkey, and hideous—ah, too hideous for words.

1976 T. Murphy & N. O'Donoghue On Outside in T. Murphy Plays: 4 (1989) 190 Ah, she can go to hell.

1988 R. Doyle Commitments (1991) 1 Aah, that's fuckin' horrible, th' is.

1997 C. McPherson Weir 16 (stage direct.) The others are laughing, going ‘ah’ as though Finbar has caught Jack out.

4. Expressing pleasure, surprise, wonder, or admiration.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection]

whatOE

well, wellOE

avoyc1300

ouc1300

ay1340

lorda1393

ahaa1400

hillaa1400

whannowc1450

wow1513

why?1520

heydaya1529

ah1538

ah me!a1547

fore me!a1547

o me!a1547

what the (also a) goodyear1570

precious coals1576

Lord have mercy (on us)1581

good heavens1588

whau1589

coads1590

ay me!1591

my stars!a1593

Gods me1595

law1598

Godso1600

to go out1600

coads-nigs1608

for mercy!a1616

good stars!1615

mercy on us (also me, etc.)!a1616

gramercy1617

goodness1623

what next?1662

mon Dieu1665

heugh1668

criminy1681

Lawd1696

the dickens1697

(God, etc.) bless my heart1704

alackaday1705

(for) mercy's sake!1707

my1707

deuce1710

gracious1712

goodly and gracious1713

my word1722

my stars and garters!1758

lawka1774

losha1779

Lord bless me (also you, us, etc.)1784

great guns!1795

mein Gott1795

Dear me!1805

fancy1813

well, I'm sure!1815

massy1817

Dear, dear!1818

to get off1818

laws1824

Mamma mia1824

by crikey1826

wisha1826

alleleu1829

crackey1830

Madonna mia1830

indeed1834

to go on1835

snakes1839

Jerusalem1840

sapristi1840

oh my days1841

tear and ages1841

what (why, etc.) in time?1844

sakes alive!1846

gee willikers1847

to get away1847

well, to be sure!1847

gee1851

Great Scott1852

holy mackerel!1855

doggone1857

lawsy1868

my wig(s)!1871

gee whiz1872

crimes1874

yoicks1881

Christmas1882

hully gee1895

'ullo1895

my hat!1899

good (also great) grief!1900

strike me pink!1902

oo-er1909

what do you know?1909

cripes1910

coo1911

zowiec1913

can you tie that?1918

hot diggety1924

yeow1924

ziggety1924

stone (or stiffen) the crows1930

hullo1931

tiens1932

whammo1932

po po po1936

how about that?1939

hallo1942

brother1945

tie that!1948

surprise1953

wowee1963

yikes1971

never1974

to sod off1976

whee1978

mercy1986

yipes1989

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > exclamation of wonder [interjection]

ahaa1400

ocha1522

heydaya1529

ah1538

ah me!a1547

fore me!a1547

o me!a1547

gossea1556

ay me!1591

o (also oh) rare!1596

law1598

strangec1670

lack-a-day1695

stap my vitals1697

alackaday1705

prodigious1707

my word1722

(by) golly1743

gosh1757

Dear me!1805

Madre de Dios1815

Great Jove!1819

I snum1825

crikey1826

my eye1826

crackey1830

snakes1839

Great Scott1852

holy mackerel!1855

whoops1870

this beats my grandmother1883

wow1892

great balls of fire1893

oo-er1909

zowiec1913

crimes1929

yowa1943

wowee1963

Madre mia!1964

yikes1971

whee1978

chingas1984

1538 M. Coverdale tr. M. Luther Expos. Magnificat sig. C.ix Ah howe well and happely doth thys befall?

1597 R. Tofte Laura ii. iii. sig. C1^v Ah happie thrice that liggs in loue with thee.

1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. i. 10 Ah me, how sweete is loue.

1677 Debauchee i. ii. 11 Ah, she's a Heavenly creature.

1697 E. Ravenscroft Anatomist iii. 33 Here's a set of Bodkins for your hair... Ah how they sparkle like your pretty Eyes.

1745 M. Akinside Friendship & Love 8 But ah! where both their Charms unite, How perfect is the View.

1780 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 129 Ah how different & how superior our sweet Father!

1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. vi. 104 A-a-h! what a box! a Louis-quatorze, I think?

1886 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel 150 Ah! sweet are those eloquent lips a-pout.

1922 E. von Arnim Enchanted April (1989) 313 She drew in a deep breath of pleasure. Ah, this was—Her deep breath was arrested in the middle.

1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death xiii. 230 Ah, a dotey little love she was.

a1985 W. Herman in I. Gitler Swing to Bop (1987) vi. 195 Ah, what a beautiful family you have.

1990 R. Doyle Snapper (1993) 6 He sat down and saw the tea waiting for him.—Aah, lovely.

2009 Clevedon Mercury (Nexis) 24 Sept. 14 Pupils were speechless when they arrived for their induction and could only utter ‘ooh’, ‘aah’ and ‘wow’.

5. Expressing opposition or objection. Often followed by but, no.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > expressing opposition [interjection]

ah1560

well-a-fine1880

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries xvii. f. ccxxxvii Here themperoure interruptynge, ah (sayeth he) what shulde that good man refourme?

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Sept. f. 38^v Ah but Hobbinol, all this long tale, Nought easeth the care, that doth me forhaile.

1615 T. Heywood Foure Prentises sig. I2 Ah, but the resolution of thy death Made me to loose such thought.

1645 Kingdom's Weekly Post 16 Dec. 76 Was it thus in the days of Noah? Ah no!

1702 H. Lee Anti-scepticism iv. vi. 269 Ah, but then I spoke of general Propositions, whereas yours,..is not a general, but a particular Proposition.

1796 R. Bage Hermsprong II. xxvi. 236 Ah, my dear! but how if he supposes such a wicked thing, without your permission?

1857 G. Borrow Romany Rye II. App. v. 285 Ah! but some sticker-up for gentility will exclaim, ‘The hero did not refuse.’

1875 Good Words Jan. 32/1 Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go.

1915 J. Turner Let. 15 July in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 18 Ah—but the other side—..my blood boils sometimes.

1972 Times Lit. Suppl. 31 Mar. 362/1 Ah, it will be objected, you were just saying you must not talk down to the reader.

2010 J. Cole Amateur Historian xix. 146 Ah, but you see, the past is often with us, Chief Inspector.

6. Expressing realization, discovery, or inspiration.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > realization or discovery [interjection]

ahaa1400

ah1591

Eureka1818

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > exclamation on making discovery [interjection]

ah1591

Eureka1818

1591 J. Lyly Endimion v. i. sig. H^v Ah, I see his eyes almost open.

1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph i. iii. 14 But ah here comes my Fury, I must flie.

1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy i. i. 10 Ah, now I perceive it plain.

1735 W. Somervile Chace iv. 433 Quick fix the Nets, and cut off his Retreat Into the shelt'ring Deeps. Ah! there he vents!

1779 R. Cumberland Calypso ii. 19 Where am I? Sure it was a dream!—Ah, no.

a1827 W. Blake Island in Moon iii, in E. J. Ellis Real Blake (1907) iii. 70 ‘It was Phebus,’ said the Epicurean. ‘Ah, that was the Gentleman,’ said Aradobo.

1845 J. F. Cooper Satanstoe I. v. 80 Ah! here is just the money—three ninepennies.

1895 Daily Tel. 2 Dec. 5/1 Mr. Justice Wright: ‘What?’ Mr. Willis: ‘Booze, my lord, drink.’ Mr. Justice Wright: ‘Ah!’

1934 W. B. Yeats Words upon Window-pane 58 Where did I put that tea-caddy? Ah! there it is.

1955 J. P. Donleavy Ginger Man xvii. 201 Ah, you want money, Miss Frost. Money is what you're after.

1972 T. Stoppard Jumpers ii. 62 Ah!—I knew there was something.

2003 J. Moore Ex Files 113 Ah, there you are, darling!

7. As a conversational filler, expressing hesitation, inarticulacy, etc. Cf. er int., uh int. b, um int. 1.

ΚΠ

1834 London & Paris Observer 15 June 381/2 Ah—he has requested me, sir, to say—ah—to-morrow, at gunfire, on the beach behind Iguana rock, sir.

1847 A. B. Reach Nat. Hist. ‘Bores’ viii. 66 The struggle for something to say on the part of the male animal then becomes something tragic. It goes on in this style—‘Ah—ah—ahem. Fond of dancing?’

1879 Godey's Lady's Bk. Apr. 360/2 It may be some of the family, and you, ah, might frighten them, you know.

1914 B. Tarkington Penrod xxv. 281 ‘I—ah—I cannot say,’ he returned absently.

1960 A. MacLean Night without End ix. 170 Your courage is a fair match for your—ah—lack of perspicacity, shall we say.

1994 J. Oke Too Long Stranger 23 Of course—ah—as I said—it wouldn't be much—but—ah—it should care for the—ah—bank loan.

2005 J. Martyn Ringfort to Runway ii. iii. 128 If ye'll excuse me, ladies, I have to..ah..visit the boys' room.

B. n.

An exclamation or utterance of ‘ah’. Frequently in collocation with similar nouns (later esp. ooh and um): cf. oohs and ahs at ooh n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or exclamation > [noun] > other specific cries or exclamations

O?c1225

heyc1400

hoc1405

whoopc1450

oha1535

ooh1602

whowb1602

phew1613

hogmanay1692

ah1712

yo-hope1724

whew1751

whoo1763

yah1812

yo-heave-ho1813

yoicks1817

yo-he-ho1827

yo1830

boo1833

yoick1854

hot-cha-cha1932

ooh-la-la1952

ooh-ah1957

eina1971

eish2005

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 400. ⁋4 Much Care and Concern for the Lady's Welfare..expressed by an Interjection, an Ah, or an Oh, at some little Hazard in moving or making a Step.

1794 S. Rowson Charlotte (new ed.) II. xviii. 138 There are so many ahs! and ohs! so much fainting, tears, and distress.

1820 W. Tooke tr. Lucian Lucian of Samosata I. l. 386 Never-ending ohs and ahs.

1885 Proc. Amer. Soc. Psych. Res. 1 312 The ‘wells’ and ‘ahs’, ‘don't-you-know's’ and other stop-gap interjections.

1920 Christian Cent. 8 July 16/2 It met with many ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’, but with no affirmative votes.

1962 A. Lurie Love & Friendship v. 96 Mother's oohs and ahhs as she undid my package.

1976 Advocate (Newark, Ohio) 27 Dec. 6/2 Whip up a Pina Pavlova and then sit back and listen to the ‘ahs’ of appreciation.

1993 Guardian 3 Nov. ii. 5/1 In fact it's very precisely fixed, there isn't even room for many ums and ahs or pauses.

2009 L. Malin Fire Me 25 Even the toughest reporter in the room was cooing out a soft ‘ah’.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	ah
释义	ahv. Brit. /ɑː/, U.S. /ɑ/ Inflections: Past tense and past participle ahed, ah'd; Forms: 1800s– ah, 1900s– ahh, 1900s– aah. Forms with a or h occurring three or more times are also attested. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: ah int. Etymology: < ah int. Compare ooh v., oh v., um v.. 1. intransitive. To say ‘ah’ as an expression of surprise, wonder, realization, etc. Frequently in collocation with ooh or oh (cf. to ooh and ah at ooh v. 1, oh v. 1). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > feel wonder, be amazed [verb (intransitive)] > express wonder ah1871 1836 S. Hoding Land Log-bk. 254 If you had told us that Gen. Jackson had run or gallopped to the next town, Oh-ing and Ah-ing! leaving the poor woman to die. 1871 Galaxy Aug. 267/2 We ah-ed at the rockets. 1902 Q. Oregon Hist. Soc. June 193 He was an object of intense curiosity. They ‘oh'ed’ and ‘ah'ed’ and ‘ooh'ed’. 1944 R. Register Let. 25 Apr. in C. C. Wood My War (2005) 133 The other day I was invited to a Lord's house for tea and that was something!.. I found myself ahhing and ahhing all over the place. 1960 C. Ray Merry Eng. 128 The spectators ooh! and ah! and roar their delight. 2000 P. Beatty Tuff xiii. 171 Winston smelled the bill, aahed, then stuffed it back into his pocket. 2006 J. Collins Lovers & Players xxxii. 219 Everyone was oohing and ahing about how adorable she was. 2. intransitive. To say ‘ah’ in hesitation or indecision; to vacillate. Usually in collocation with a similar verb or verbs; now chiefly in to um and ah (cf. um v.). ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > speak inarticulately or with a defect [verb (intransitive)] > stammer or speak hesitantly stammerc1000 wlaffe1025 stotec1325 humc1374 mafflea1387 stut1388 rattlea1398 famble14.. mammera1425 drotec1440 falterc1440 stackerc1440 hem1470 wallowa1475 tattle1481 mant1506 happer1519 trip1526 hobblea1529 hack1553 stagger1565 faffle1570 stutter1570 hem and hawk1588 ha1604 hammer1619 titubate1623 haw1632 fork1652 hacker1652 lispc1680 hesitate1706 balbutiate1731 haffle1790 hotter1828 stutter1831 ah1853 catch1889 1853 E. C. G. Murray Walter Evelyn xiv. 171 He heigh'd, and oh'd, and ah'd, and um'd, and rolled his wicked eyes about a little longer. 1862 ‘M. Harland’ Miriam xiii. 218 He hemmed and ‘ah-ed’ lamentably, in accosting or replying to him. 1933 E. De Witt Jones Amer. Preachers To-day xxv. 250 His delivery is careless; he ‘ahs’ and ‘ers’ a deal. 1981 R. Westall Scarecrows (1990) xvii. 144 Who ummed, aahed, strode around the mill and declared it definitely thirteenth century. 2002 Gardens Illustr. Sept. 83/2 He ums and ahs over a perennial sunflower,..mutters, ‘To hell with it, this doesn't happen too often,’ and cuts the best stalk. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021). ahint.n. Brit. /ɑː/, U.S. /ɑ/ Forms: Middle English– ah, 1500s ahe, 1800s– aah, 1900s– ahh. Forms with a or h occurring three or more times are also attested. Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item; modelled on a French lexical item. Etymon: a int.¹ Etymology: Variant of a int.¹, after Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French a, ah (also ha : see ha int.), expressing variously imprecation, emphasis, joy, sadness, and anger. Compare classical Latin ā , āh , Old Occitan a , Catalan ah , expressing variously joy, sorrow, anger, surprise, and warning (14th cent.), Spanish ah , expressing admiration, wonder, and surprise (1200–50), Portuguese ah , expressing variously compassion, pain, impatience, joy, doubt, surprise, admiration, sadness, and irony (13th cent.), Italian ahi , expressing physical and emotional suffering (a1294). Compare O int. and n.² and oh int. and n.¹Middle English ā in this interjection did not generally undergo the Great Vowel Shift, apparently owing to its connection with the natural utterance which it ultimately represents (see a int.¹), although continuations of this word showing the results of its operation may perhaps be shown by some instances of ay int. and eigh int., and it is possible that some examples given here likewise represent pronunciations with /eː/ or /eɪ/. With use in ah me! (see senses A. 2a and A. 4) compare me pron.¹ 6b, and see discussion at that entry. A. int. 1. Expressing entreaty, appeal, or remonstrance; (formerly also) †used to gain attention.With reference to gaining attention, N.E.D. (1884) notes: ‘North. dial. still have ā man!’ ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [interjection] > emphasizing a following statement whatOE loOE lookOE aha1225 loura1225 halec1300 why1545 if (also and) you pleasec1563 ahem1606 I say1613 ahey1696 sithee1828 please it you1881 lookit1907 the mind > language > speech > request > [interjection] > expressions of request aha1225 prithee?c1560 I pritheea1591 please1771 bambi2012 a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 63 (MED) Ah lauerd god her ure bone. a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 45 (MED) Ah, feyre leuedis! be on war. a1547 J. Redford Moral Play Wit & Sci. (1848) 3 Ah! syr, what tyme of day yst? a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) i. iii. 8 Ah Clifford, murther not this innocent Child. View more context for this quotation 1681 T. Otway Souldiers Fortune v. i. 70 Sir Jolly, ah, Sir Jolly, protect me or I'm ruin'd. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 130. ¶2 Ah Master says the Gypsie, that roguish Leer of yours makes a pretty Woman's Heart ake. 1774 H. Brooke Juliet Grenville (Dublin ed.) I. 174 Looking resentfully at me, Ah Letty, said he, is this the reception you give your Felix? 1837 Ld. Tennyson Oh! that 'twere Possible in Ld. Northampton Tribute 245 Ah God! that it were possible For one short hour to see The souls we loved. 1867 M. Arnold Parting in Empedocles on Etna 91 Ah, calm me! restore me! And dry up my tears. 1906 ‘H. Foulis’ Vital Spark 39 ‘Ah, Captain!’ I said, ‘that's bad! Poaching with a splash-net!’ 1972 G. Lucas et al. Amer. Graffiti (film script) 40 Ah, Wendy, my old love, come back here and console me. 2007 D. M. Kiely & C. McKenna Dark Sacrament i. 80 Ah, please, Carmel! Don't start that old nonsense with me. 2. a. Expressing sorrow, distress, or regret. Now also: expressing resignation or exasperation. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > regret > exclamation of regret [interjection] alack1447 ah1509 ocha1522 alack the day1565 ay me!1591 Ichabod1702 deary me!1785 the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > cry of grief > [interjection] > specific cry of grief woeeOE wellawayeOE weilac1000 wellawayOE wellaOE woe is meOE wummec1175 wia1200 outa1225 alas?c1225 walec1275 ac1300 whilec1402 ochonea1425 wellesay?1440 wannowec1450 helas1484 ah1509 ocha1522 ah me!a1547 wougha1556 eh1569 welladay1570 how1575 wellanear1581 ay me!1591 lasa1593 wella, welladay1601 good lack!1638 oime1660 pillaloo1663 wellanearing1683 lack-a-day1695 wasteheart1695 walya1724 lackadaisy1748 ochree1748 waesucks1773 well-a-winsa1774 ullagone1819 wirra1825 mavrone1827 wirrasthru1827 ototoi1877 wurra1898 1509 J. Fisher Mornynge Remembraunce Countesse of Rychemonde (de Worde) sig. B.ii Ah my lorde yf thou hadde ben present and had herde this sorowfull cryes of her thy seruaunte. c1550 Clariodus (1830) i. l. 922 Ah! sall I now forgoe my warld blise, That so we sould depairt. 1611 Bible (King James) Jer. xxii. 18 They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother, or ah sister. View more context for this quotation a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in Wks. (1898) I. 33 Ah! art ye sunschyne of those machles beames In sorowes seas so suddenly gone doune? 1717 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad III. x. 632 Yet much I fear (ah may that Fear be vain). 1718 M. Prior Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 92 Ah Me! the blooming Pride of May, and That of Beauty are but One. 1765 J. Brown Christian Jrnl. 161 But ah what ravaging lusts..blood-guiltiness, and spiritual slavery, am I an awful scene of? 1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 55 Ah! much I envy thee, thy boys. 1846 Ld. Tennyson Golden Year in Poems (ed. 4) II. 90 Ah! when shall all men's good Be each man's rule. 1887 Relig. Herald 2 June Ah, the poor horses! how many a brutal kick and stripe they got. 1954 B. Frechtman & J. T. Nile tr. L.-F. Céline Guignol's Band 50 Ah! how I wish I were free!.. if I hadn't my job! 1968 H. S. Thompson Let. 13 Feb. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 37 Ah, damnit, my package of carbon paper slipped into a puddle of eucalyptus oil. 2000 T. A. Kessler D-Girl (HBO TV shooting script) 10 in Sopranos 2nd Ser. (O.E.D. Archive) Melfi. Are you angry with Anthony Jr. about the car? Tony. Aah, can't put the shit back in the donkey, boys'll be boys. b. Now frequently in form aah (cf. argh int.). Expressing pain. Cf. ow int. ΚΠ 1645 H. Burkhead Trag. Cola's Furie v. 59 Ah, I am wounded. 1679 A. Behn Feign'd Curtizans i. ii. 9 Ah my Belly, my Belly, Signior: ah, this Wind-Collick! 1783 R. Potter tr. Euripides Tragedies II. 154 Ah My sides! Oh how I long to change my place. 1850 Harper's Mag. July 176/2 Ah! it's more than I can bear. Don't touch it. 1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies iv. 164 He turned..and bit the professor's finger till it bled. ‘Oh! ah! yah!’ cried he. 1905 Cent. Mag. Nov. 191/1 She shook the wounded Indian roughly. ‘Ah—ah—ah!’ he groaned. 1982 F. McGuinness Factory Girls ii. 12/2 Aah! Did you jag me with that steel comb? 2008 G. McKnight Green-eyed Monster v. 59 Aah. Stop that. You're hurting me. 3. Expressing dislike, aversion, or contempt; (also) mockery or satisfaction at another's misfortune. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > exclamations of contempt [interjection] prut?c1300 trutc1330 truptc1380 ahaa1400 tushc1440 puff1481 quotha?1520 ah?1526 ta ha1528 twish1577 blurt1592 gip1592 pish1592 tantia1593 (God) bless (also save) the mark1593 phah1593 marry come up1597 mew1600 pooh1600 marry muff1602 pew waw1602 ptish1602 pew1604 push1605 pshaw1607 tuh1607 pea1608 poh1650 pooh pooh1694 hoity-toity1695 highty-tighty1699 quoz?1780 indeed1834 shuck1847 skidoo1906 suck1913 zut1915 yah boo1921 pooey1927 ptui1930 snubs1934 upya1941 yah boo sucks1980 the mind > emotion > hatred > dislike > look expressive of displeasure or dislike > exclamation expressing aversion or dislike [interjection] ah?1526 ?1526 Complaynt Mary Magdaleyne in Chaucer's Bk. Fame (Pynson) sig. e.vi^v/1 Ah ye iewes, worse than dogges rabiate. 1580 Baret's Aluearie (rev. ed.) A 253 Ah, ah, I dye poore wench in laughing thee to scorne. 1611 Bible (King James) Mark xv. 29 Ah thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three dayes. View more context for this quotation 1684 B. Keach Progress Sin ii. 12 He hath cast him off, and turn'd him out of Paradise. Ah! How I laugh to see it? 1701 G. Farquhar Sir Harry Wildair iii. i. 21 Ah! I hate these Congregation-women. There's such a fuss and such a clutter about their Devotion. ?1794 C. Dibdin Rambooze 3 Ah! you've nothing to do but get drunk with Rambooze. c1820 J. Hogg Tales & Sketches (1837) II. 147 Ah! the unwordy rascal! 1887 H. R. Haggard She xxvi. 294 She lay still before us,..no larger than a big monkey, and hideous—ah, too hideous for words. 1976 T. Murphy & N. O'Donoghue On Outside in T. Murphy Plays: 4 (1989) 190 Ah, she can go to hell. 1988 R. Doyle Commitments (1991) 1 Aah, that's fuckin' horrible, th' is. 1997 C. McPherson Weir 16 (stage direct.) The others are laughing, going ‘ah’ as though Finbar has caught Jack out. 4. Expressing pleasure, surprise, wonder, or admiration. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > exclamation of surprise [interjection] whatOE well, wellOE avoyc1300 ouc1300 ay1340 lorda1393 ahaa1400 hillaa1400 whannowc1450 wow1513 why?1520 heydaya1529 ah1538 ah me!a1547 fore me!a1547 o me!a1547 what the (also a) goodyear1570 precious coals1576 Lord have mercy (on us)1581 good heavens1588 whau1589 coads1590 ay me!1591 my stars!a1593 Gods me1595 law1598 Godso1600 to go out1600 coads-nigs1608 for mercy!a1616 good stars!1615 mercy on us (also me, etc.)!a1616 gramercy1617 goodness1623 what next?1662 mon Dieu1665 heugh1668 criminy1681 Lawd1696 the dickens1697 (God, etc.) bless my heart1704 alackaday1705 (for) mercy's sake!1707 my1707 deuce1710 gracious1712 goodly and gracious1713 my word1722 my stars and garters!1758 lawka1774 losha1779 Lord bless me (also you, us, etc.)1784 great guns!1795 mein Gott1795 Dear me!1805 fancy1813 well, I'm sure!1815 massy1817 Dear, dear!1818 to get off1818 laws1824 Mamma mia1824 by crikey1826 wisha1826 alleleu1829 crackey1830 Madonna mia1830 indeed1834 to go on1835 snakes1839 Jerusalem1840 sapristi1840 oh my days1841 tear and ages1841 what (why, etc.) in time?1844 sakes alive!1846 gee willikers1847 to get away1847 well, to be sure!1847 gee1851 Great Scott1852 holy mackerel!1855 doggone1857 lawsy1868 my wig(s)!1871 gee whiz1872 crimes1874 yoicks1881 Christmas1882 hully gee1895 'ullo1895 my hat!1899 good (also great) grief!1900 strike me pink!1902 oo-er1909 what do you know?1909 cripes1910 coo1911 zowiec1913 can you tie that?1918 hot diggety1924 yeow1924 ziggety1924 stone (or stiffen) the crows1930 hullo1931 tiens1932 whammo1932 po po po1936 how about that?1939 hallo1942 brother1945 tie that!1948 surprise1953 wowee1963 yikes1971 never1974 to sod off1976 whee1978 mercy1986 yipes1989 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > exclamation of wonder [interjection] ahaa1400 ocha1522 heydaya1529 ah1538 ah me!a1547 fore me!a1547 o me!a1547 gossea1556 ay me!1591 o (also oh) rare!1596 law1598 strangec1670 lack-a-day1695 stap my vitals1697 alackaday1705 prodigious1707 my word1722 (by) golly1743 gosh1757 Dear me!1805 Madre de Dios1815 Great Jove!1819 I snum1825 crikey1826 my eye1826 crackey1830 snakes1839 Great Scott1852 holy mackerel!1855 whoops1870 this beats my grandmother1883 wow1892 great balls of fire1893 oo-er1909 zowiec1913 crimes1929 yowa1943 wowee1963 Madre mia!1964 yikes1971 whee1978 chingas1984 1538 M. Coverdale tr. M. Luther Expos. Magnificat sig. C.ix Ah howe well and happely doth thys befall? 1597 R. Tofte Laura ii. iii. sig. C1^v Ah happie thrice that liggs in loue with thee. 1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. i. 10 Ah me, how sweete is loue. View more context for this quotation 1677 Debauchee i. ii. 11 Ah, she's a Heavenly creature. 1697 E. Ravenscroft Anatomist iii. 33 Here's a set of Bodkins for your hair... Ah how they sparkle like your pretty Eyes. 1745 M. Akinside Friendship & Love 8 But ah! where both their Charms unite, How perfect is the View. 1780 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (2003) IV. 129 Ah how different & how superior our sweet Father! 1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. vi. 104 A-a-h! what a box! a Louis-quatorze, I think? 1886 J. Ashby-Sterry Lazy Minstrel 150 Ah! sweet are those eloquent lips a-pout. 1922 E. von Arnim Enchanted April (1989) 313 She drew in a deep breath of pleasure. Ah, this was—Her deep breath was arrested in the middle. 1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death xiii. 230 Ah, a dotey little love she was. a1985 W. Herman in I. Gitler Swing to Bop (1987) vi. 195 Ah, what a beautiful family you have. 1990 R. Doyle Snapper (1993) 6 He sat down and saw the tea waiting for him.—Aah, lovely. 2009 Clevedon Mercury (Nexis) 24 Sept. 14 Pupils were speechless when they arrived for their induction and could only utter ‘ooh’, ‘aah’ and ‘wow’. 5. Expressing opposition or objection. Often followed by but, no. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > expressing opposition [interjection] ah1560 well-a-fine1880 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries xvii. f. ccxxxvii Here themperoure interruptynge, ah (sayeth he) what shulde that good man refourme? 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Sept. f. 38^v Ah but Hobbinol, all this long tale, Nought easeth the care, that doth me forhaile. 1615 T. Heywood Foure Prentises sig. I2 Ah, but the resolution of thy death Made me to loose such thought. 1645 Kingdom's Weekly Post 16 Dec. 76 Was it thus in the days of Noah? Ah no! 1702 H. Lee Anti-scepticism iv. vi. 269 Ah, but then I spoke of general Propositions, whereas yours,..is not a general, but a particular Proposition. 1796 R. Bage Hermsprong II. xxvi. 236 Ah, my dear! but how if he supposes such a wicked thing, without your permission? 1857 G. Borrow Romany Rye II. App. v. 285 Ah! but some sticker-up for gentility will exclaim, ‘The hero did not refuse.’ 1875 Good Words Jan. 32/1 Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go. 1915 J. Turner Let. 15 July in C. Warren Somewhere in France (2019) 18 Ah—but the other side—..my blood boils sometimes. 1972 Times Lit. Suppl. 31 Mar. 362/1 Ah, it will be objected, you were just saying you must not talk down to the reader. 2010 J. Cole Amateur Historian xix. 146 Ah, but you see, the past is often with us, Chief Inspector. 6. Expressing realization, discovery, or inspiration. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > realization or discovery [interjection] ahaa1400 ah1591 Eureka1818 the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > exclamation on making discovery [interjection] ah1591 Eureka1818 1591 J. Lyly Endimion v. i. sig. H^v Ah, I see his eyes almost open. 1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph i. iii. 14 But ah here comes my Fury, I must flie. 1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy i. i. 10 Ah, now I perceive it plain. 1735 W. Somervile Chace iv. 433 Quick fix the Nets, and cut off his Retreat Into the shelt'ring Deeps. Ah! there he vents! 1779 R. Cumberland Calypso ii. 19 Where am I? Sure it was a dream!—Ah, no. a1827 W. Blake Island in Moon iii, in E. J. Ellis Real Blake (1907) iii. 70 ‘It was Phebus,’ said the Epicurean. ‘Ah, that was the Gentleman,’ said Aradobo. 1845 J. F. Cooper Satanstoe I. v. 80 Ah! here is just the money—three ninepennies. 1895 Daily Tel. 2 Dec. 5/1 Mr. Justice Wright: ‘What?’ Mr. Willis: ‘Booze, my lord, drink.’ Mr. Justice Wright: ‘Ah!’ 1934 W. B. Yeats Words upon Window-pane 58 Where did I put that tea-caddy? Ah! there it is. 1955 J. P. Donleavy Ginger Man xvii. 201 Ah, you want money, Miss Frost. Money is what you're after. 1972 T. Stoppard Jumpers ii. 62 Ah!—I knew there was something. 2003 J. Moore Ex Files 113 Ah, there you are, darling! 7. As a conversational filler, expressing hesitation, inarticulacy, etc. Cf. er int., uh int. b, um int. 1. ΚΠ 1834 London & Paris Observer 15 June 381/2 Ah—he has requested me, sir, to say—ah—to-morrow, at gunfire, on the beach behind Iguana rock, sir. 1847 A. B. Reach Nat. Hist. ‘Bores’ viii. 66 The struggle for something to say on the part of the male animal then becomes something tragic. It goes on in this style—‘Ah—ah—ahem. Fond of dancing?’ 1879 Godey's Lady's Bk. Apr. 360/2 It may be some of the family, and you, ah, might frighten them, you know. 1914 B. Tarkington Penrod xxv. 281 ‘I—ah—I cannot say,’ he returned absently. 1960 A. MacLean Night without End ix. 170 Your courage is a fair match for your—ah—lack of perspicacity, shall we say. 1994 J. Oke Too Long Stranger 23 Of course—ah—as I said—it wouldn't be much—but—ah—it should care for the—ah—bank loan. 2005 J. Martyn Ringfort to Runway ii. iii. 128 If ye'll excuse me, ladies, I have to..ah..visit the boys' room. B. n. An exclamation or utterance of ‘ah’. Frequently in collocation with similar nouns (later esp. ooh and um): cf. oohs and ahs at ooh n. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or exclamation > [noun] > other specific cries or exclamations O?c1225 heyc1400 hoc1405 whoopc1450 oha1535 ooh1602 whowb1602 phew1613 hogmanay1692 ah1712 yo-hope1724 whew1751 whoo1763 yah1812 yo-heave-ho1813 yoicks1817 yo-he-ho1827 yo1830 boo1833 yoick1854 hot-cha-cha1932 ooh-la-la1952 ooh-ah1957 eina1971 eish2005 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 400. ⁋4 Much Care and Concern for the Lady's Welfare..expressed by an Interjection, an Ah, or an Oh, at some little Hazard in moving or making a Step. 1794 S. Rowson Charlotte (new ed.) II. xviii. 138 There are so many ahs! and ohs! so much fainting, tears, and distress. 1820 W. Tooke tr. Lucian Lucian of Samosata I. l. 386 Never-ending ohs and ahs. 1885 Proc. Amer. Soc. Psych. Res. 1 312 The ‘wells’ and ‘ahs’, ‘don't-you-know's’ and other stop-gap interjections. 1920 Christian Cent. 8 July 16/2 It met with many ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’, but with no affirmative votes. 1962 A. Lurie Love & Friendship v. 96 Mother's oohs and ahhs as she undid my package. 1976 Advocate (Newark, Ohio) 27 Dec. 6/2 Whip up a Pina Pavlova and then sit back and listen to the ‘ahs’ of appreciation. 1993 Guardian 3 Nov. ii. 5/1 In fact it's very precisely fixed, there isn't even room for many ums and ahs or pauses. 2009 L. Malin Fire Me 25 Even the toughest reporter in the room was cooing out a soft ‘ah’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022). > as lemmas AH AH adv. [graphic abbreviation of post-classical Latin anno Hegirae (1556 or earlier) < classical Latin annō , ablative of annus year (see annals n.) + post-classical Latin Hegirae , genitive of Hegira Hijra n.¹] in the year of the Hijra. ΚΠ 1621 P. Heylyn Microcosmus 321 (table) A:H. 1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. lii. 418 The foundations of Bagdad were laid a.h. 145, a.d. 762. 1861 W. Muir Life Mahomet III. xiii. 151 Mahomet marries Haphsa Shában, A.H. III. November A.D. 624. 1940 F. Stark Winter in Arabia iv. 25 It [sc. the wooden minbar] belonged to the year a.h. 693 (1293 a.d.). 2000 Mag. Antiques (Nexis) Mar. 464 These dates, in the Muslim calendar (AH), start with the Hegira, the prophet Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622. extracted from An. < v.1836int.n.a1225 as lemmas
随便看	antipopulationist antiporn antiportable antipos antipose antiposition antipositivist antipoverty antipractise antipraesulist antiprelate antiprelatic antiprelatical antiprelatist antiprobabilism antiprofessionalism antiprogressist antiprogressive antiproliferation antiprophet antiprostitution antiprothrombin antiproton antiprotons antipruritic

ahv.

ahint.n.

> as lemmas