oh Latin · revision 33697

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ōh!''' ^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also written ''ō''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a natural exclamation, imitative in origin.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD compares [[grc|ὦ|tr=ô]] and similar interjections in Gothic and other languages.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It belongs to the language of comedy.^(Georges 1913) Plautus has it of pleasure, ''oh mihi! in tempore advenis'', “oh, you have come just at the right time for me!”^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It expresses very different feelings.^(Lewis & Short 1879) In Plautus and Terence it marks pleasure or satisfaction, pain, misery or reproach, and surprise.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Terence has ''oh, iniquus es'', “oh, you are unfair”.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Repeated as ''oh! oh! oh!'' it is a cry of lamentation in Plautus, and a doubled ''oh, oh'' expresses exultation.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, of pleasure, pain and surprise.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Expressing [[m|en|pleasure]] or satisfaction: oh!, ah!^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Expressing pain, misery or [[m|en|reproach]]: oh!, alas!^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Expressing [[m|en|surprise]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Georges and the TLL treat it together with the interjection ''ō''.^(Georges 1913)^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}