hey English · revision 2576

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 1200|origins=enm hei}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /heɪ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a natural exclamation, Middle English hei,^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Barnhart 1988) possibly imitative,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) compared with Old French [[m|fro|hai]], Dutch and German [[m|de|hei]] and Swedish [[m|sv|hej]].^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline) Etymonline compares Latin eia and Greek [[m|grc|εἶα|tr=eîa]].^(Etymonline) Latin hei was a cry of grief or fear, but heia, eia an interjection of joy.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A call implying challenge, anger or derision: about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) before 1225 in the OED, as a call to attract attention.^(OED 1989) Etymonline quotes an example from the life of Saint Katherine of Alexandria, about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English spellings include hei, hai, ai, he and heh.^(Etymonline) Later in Middle English it expressed sorrow or concern, and was a shout of encouragement to hunting dogs.^(Etymonline) In modern use it is often weakened, expressing pleasure or surprise.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) ''Hey for'', in applause, is from 1689,^(OED 1989) ''hey presto'', a conjurer's command, from 1731,^(OED 1989) and ''hey, Rube!'', a circus rallying cry, from 1882.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – a cry of challenge or derision.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1689 – ''hey for''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1731 – ''hey presto''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1882 – ''hey, Rube!''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to attract attention or to express surprise, appreciation, wonder or pleasure.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[heyday]]

+ * [[hey presto]]

+ * [[hey Rube]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hi]]

+ * [[heigh]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}