Expressing triumph, satisfaction, realization, discovery, or (now rarely) mockery or irony. Cf. ah, int. 3 4 ha, int. 1b.

Originally: expressing sorrow or regret. Later: expressing annoyed dismissal or disregard, exasperation, etc. och how!: ‘alas!’.

An exclamation denoting frolicsomeness, gaiety, surprise, wonder, etc.

Expressing pleasure, surprise, wonder, or admiration.

In various exclamatory uses, without definite syntactical relation to the context. In interjectional phrases, as ah me! (see ah, int. 2a 4), ay me!…

In various exclamatory uses, without definite syntactical relation to the context. In interjectional phrases, as ah me! (see ah, int. 2a 4), ay me!…

In various exclamatory uses, without definite syntactical relation to the context. In interjectional phrases, as ah me! (see ah, int. 2a 4), ay me!…

Mincing pronunciation of god, n. int.: cf. gosh, n.

ay me! = Alas! Ah me!—an ejaculation of regret, sorrow, pity.

As int. o (also oh) rare!: expressing astonishment, admiration, etc. Now archaic or poetic.

Expressing surprise, emphasis, dismay, etc.; (in early use) expressing emphatic confirmation of a statement. Sometimes with I, me, you, etc. (cf. l…

quasi-int. ‘An expression of wonder’ (Johnson); ‘an elliptical expression for it is strange (W. 1828).

= alack, int.

transitive. = stop, v., in the phrase stap my vitals, used as an exclamation of surprise, anger, etc., or as an asseveration.

alack the day: used to express grief, concern, or regret at the events of a particular day; (later more generally) used to express surprise or dismay…

As int. Expressing astonishment or dismay. Obsolete.

my word (esp. as an exclamation) = upon my word at phrases 1g(b)(ii).

In (by) golly = (by) God.

An oath or exclamation, (by) gosh!, my gosh!

Dear!, Oh dear!, Dear, dear!, Dear me!: exclamations expressing surprise, astonishment, anxiety, distress, regret, sympathy, or other emotion. dear…

In representation or imitation of the speech of Spanish and Italian speakers: mother.

With a personal name or unique designation: usually combining other senses, as pre-eminent, admirable… In exclamations, expressing surprise…

esp. in I snum as exclamation. Also as n. in by snum! (obsolete). Cf. vum, v., vum n. at vum, v. derivatives.

Expressing surprise. Also by crikey. Cf. gosh, n.

my eye (also rarely †my eyes): an expression of surprise, disbelief, or denial; (occasionally as n.) nonsense. In recent use also (dismissively) with…

= crikey, int.

In plural as an exclamation, esp. great snakes!

Expressing surprise, amazement, annoyance, admiration, etc.

Used trivially. used with a following word as an oath or expletive, as holy cow! int., holy Moses! int., holy smoke! int., holy mackerel! int.

colloquial (often humorous). Used to express mild surprise, dismay, regret, etc., typically in response to a minor accident or mistake.

this beats my grandmother: said of something that excites astonishment. Obsolete.

In general use. Now chiefly expressing astonishment or admiration.

colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.) great balls of fire: used as an exclamation to express amazement or delighted surprise.

An expression of surprise, dismay, titillation, etc.

An exclamation of astonishment (generally, or as a reaction to a sudden or surprising act), and frequently of admiration.

= criminy, int. Cf. cripes, int.

In modern Australian and New Zealand use = wow, int. 2.

In representation or imitation of the speech of Spanish and Italian speakers: mother.

An exclamation of astonishment.

An exclamation of joy, exhilaration, astonishment, etc. Occasionally as n., a high-pitched sound resembling this.

Used to express surprise, awe, etc.: ‘wow!’, ‘gosh!’