Etymologically
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eho

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈe.(ɦ)ɔ][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛː.o][1]

Forms

eho (interjection); strengthened ehodum.[2][3]

Etymology

It is an interjection, for which the OLD and Lewis & Short give no etymology.[4][2] Köbler groups it with the interjection Proto-Indo-European *ē.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found first in Plautus,[5] who has eho, an lībera illa est?, “what, is she free?”.[4]

Semantic evolution

It belongs to the language of comedy:[2][3] Plautus and Terence use it to call someone's attention, often followed by tū or a vocative (eho puer, “hey, boy”),[4][2] in surprised or indignant questions, usually with an,[4] in impatient commands and in angry rebukes.[2] Terence also strengthens it as ehodum.[2][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in questions and commands.[4][2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it and ehodum.[4][2][5]

Meanings

Interjection

  1. Hey! here, you! (calling someone's attention).[4][1]
  2. What! (in surprised or indignant questions).[4][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de