int.; formerly 2–6 a! [perh. a. OFr. a, ah, since not found in OE. Cf. MHG. â, ON. æ. In northern dial. pronounced (ē), sometimes written ay! eh! the regular phonetic descendant of ME. a.] An exclamation expressing, according to the intonation, various emotions, as
1. Sorrow, lamentation, regret, passing into the regretful expression of a vain wish. (Actual pain or suffering is now more commonly expressed by O! Oh! North. dial. have a (ē) in both senses.)
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., I. i. 2. A! Sir, I knowe welle that my wife is an hore.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froissart, I. xliv. 61. A fayre uncle, your absence hath sette the frenchmen in a pride.
1611. Bible, Jer. xxii. 18. They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother, or ah sister.
1718. Pope, Iliad, X. 632. Yet much I fear (ah! may that fear be vain!)
a. 1842. Tennyson, Gold. Year, 47. Ah! when shall all men’s good Be each man’s rule.
2. Surprise, wonder, admiration.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. vi. 191. A-a-h! what a box! a Louis-Quatorze, I think?
¶ In the two prec. senses often followed by me (north. EH ME!). Cf. It. ahime!
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. i. 10. Ah me, how sweet is loue.
c. 1720. Prior, Poems, 90 (J.).
| Ah me! the blooming Pride of MAY, | |
| And that of Beauty, are but One: | |
| At Morn Both flourish bright and gay, | |
| Both fade at Evening, pale, and gone. |
3. Entreaty, appeal, remonstrance; passing in former times into simple exclamation to excite attention, where O! would now be used. (North. dial. still have ā man!)
c. 1280. A Sarmun, in E. E. Poems (1862), 1. Þer for he seiith . al man haþ munde þat of þis lif þer commiþ ende.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Cor. vi. 11. A! ȝe Corynthis, oure mouth is opyn to ȝou.
c. 1450. Merlin, 353. A here, Arthur, ride faste.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., I. iii. 8. Ah, Clifford, murther not this innocent Child.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 130, ¶ 2. Ah Master, says the Gipsy, that roguish Leer of yours makes a pretty Woman’s Heart ake.
a. 1843. Southey, Devil’s Walk, Wks. III. 91. With throbs and throes, and ahs and ohs, Far famed his flock for frightening.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, II. iv. 13. Ah Christ, that it were possible For one short hour to see The souls we loved.
4. Dislike, aversion; passing into contempt, mockery, exultation over or satisfaction at misfortune.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 184. A! fellow! wylt thow so?
1580. Baret, Alvearie, A 253. Ah, ah, I dye poore wench in laughing thee to scorne.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. x. 28. A villaine, thou wilt betray me.
1611. Bible, Mark xv. 29. Ah thou that destroyest the Temple, and buildest it in three dayes.
5. Opposition, objection (to what has been said). Often followed by but.
Mod. Ah! but I know something better than that.
