ah English · revision 4182

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1280|origins=fro a}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɑː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|a]], ah,^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) perhaps [[bor|fro|a|t=ah!, oh!, woe!]] (later and modern French ah),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) compare Italian and Spanish ah, Latin a, ah, and Greek a;^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) such an exclamation is found in nearly all Indo-European languages.^(Etymonline) It is not found in Old English, where the equivalent was lā.^(Etymonline) Combined with [[ha]] it gave [[aha]] in the 13th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Expressing entreaty, appeal or remonstrance: about 1280 in the OED;^(OED 1989) the 13th century in Hoad and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate,^(Hoad 1986)^(MW Collegiate) and the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Sorrow, lamentation and regret are from about 1440,^(OED 1989) dislike, contempt and mockery from about 1435,^(OED 1989) and objection, often followed by ''but'', from about 1785.^(OED 1989) Surprise, wonder and admiration are recorded from 1826.^(OED 1989) ''Ah me!'' is from 1592.^(OED 1989) The noun, an utterance of “ah!”, is from the early 18th century,^(SOED 2002) and the verb, to say ah, from 1897.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – an appeal or remonstrance.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1440 – sorrow, regret.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – ''ah me!''^(OED 1989)

+ * 1826 – surprise, wonder.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1897 – verb, to say ah.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to express emotions such as satisfaction, [[surprise]], delight, realization, dislike or pain.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To say “ah”, as in surprise or admiration.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[alack]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oh]]

+ * [[uh]]

+ * [[ha]]

+ * [[aha]]

+ * [[aah]]

+ * [[alas]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In dialect and in African American English, ah has represented a pronunciation of “I” since the late 19th century.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}