ha English · revision 4375

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=a. 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /hɑː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a natural utterance,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) found in most European languages, including Latin and Old French, but not in Old English in its simple form,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) which did have [[ha-ha]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An exclamation of surprise, distress or other feeling: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the early 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 13th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) Merriam-Webster Unabridged dates it before the 12th century.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was sometimes doubled from before 1300, and doubled it represents laughter.^(OED 1989)^(Johnson 1755) Used as an interrogative after a question, like eh?, it is from 1594,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and as a sound of hesitation in speech from 1606,^(OED 1989) hence the verb ''to hum and ha'' from 1604.^(OED 1989) In Devon it was an exclamation of indignation and contempt.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – an exclamation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – = eh?^(OED 1989)

+ * 1604 – ''hum and ha''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1606 – in hesitation.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to express [[surprise]], wonder, [[triumph]], puzzlement or annoyance.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Doubled, used to represent [[laughter]].^(OED 1989)^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aha]]

+ * [[ha-ha]]

+ * [[hah]]

+ * [[haw]]

+ * [[hoo-ha]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Ha is also the symbol for the hectare, from French, formed from Greek hekaton “hundred” and are.^(NODE 1998)^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}