ei Latin · revision 31241

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɛi̯]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛi̯]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ei''' ^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''hei''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an exclamation of grief, which the OLD compares with [[grc|αἴ|tr=aí|t=ah!]].^(OLD 2012) Köbler sets it beside a reconstructed interjection [[ine-pro|*ēi]] (Pokorny 297).^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler gives Plautus as its first author,^(Köbler 2010) who has ''ei, periī miser'', “ah, I am lost, poor wretch”, in the ''Amphitruo''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It expresses anguish or distress, especially in ''ei mihi!'' and ''ei miserō mihi!'', “ah me!”, “woe is me!”.^(OLD 2012) It is frequent in comedy, in Plautus, Caecilius and Terence.^(TLL)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''ei, periī miser''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Ah! [[m|en|alas|alt=Alas]]! (in grief or fear);^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''ei mihi!'', woe is me!^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The same spelling is also the dative singular of ''is''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}