aw English · revision 7512

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=1797}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɔː/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a natural exclamation,^(NODE 1998) imitative,^(SOED 2002) first recorded in American English in the mid-19th century.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An exclamation of mild remonstrance, entreaty or commiseration: 1797 in MWU, 1852 in the OED;^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989) in this form by 1888 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ SOED labels it Scottish and North American.^(SOED 2002) It expresses mild disappointment, sympathy, disgust or disbelief.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(SOED 2002) Collins marks it informal and chiefly American.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1797 – first known use.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1852 – in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – the spelling aw.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Used to express [[sympathy]], mild [[disappointment]], disgust or disbelief.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oh]]

+ * [[ah]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Scots aw is a spelling of a', all.^(Collins 2023)^(Wright 1898) An unrelated dialect noun aw, an ear of oats, is recorded in Shropshire and Essex.^(Wright 1898) The OED also lists aw as an obsolete spelling of awe, owe and ought.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}