Forms: 4–6 exclamacioun, 5–6 -cion, -cyon, 6 -tioun, -tyon, 6– -tion. [a. Fr. exclamation, ad. L. exclāmātiōn-em, n. of action f. exclāmāre: see EXCLAIM v.]
1. The action of exclaiming or crying out; the loud articulate expression of pain, anger, surprise, etc.; clamor, vociferation. Also, an instance of this, an outcry; an emphatic or vehement speech or sentence.
1382. Wyclif, Mark, Prol. He ordeynynge in the vois of a prophetis exclamacioun, schewith the ordre of dekenis eleccioun.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. ccvii. 220. Therfore the mydwyfe made an exclamacyon, and sayde, this childe shall be a kynge.
1533. More, Apol., viii. Wks. 860/1. Tyndall … aunswereth me wyth an hedious exclamacion, and crieng oute vppon my fleshelynesse and foly.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 72. At these wordes one of them burst out in exclamation.
1637. Stirling, Doomes-day, 10th hour st. lvi. in Chalmers V. 392. Huge exclamations burst abruptly out.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), I. 106. What my Tongue might express; but it was rather Exclamation, such as, Lord! what a miserable Creature am I?
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xix. The … cries and exclamations of a woman … screaming … ‘Oh, my husband!—my husband.’
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. vii. 92. Always making these exclamations in some rough or craggy part of the road.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule (1874), 24. They were startled by an exclamation from Ingran.
2. The action of loudly complaining or protesting; a loud complaint or protest; a derogatory outcry; a ‘vociferous reproach’ (J.). Const. against, † of, † on, and in phrases To † infer, make exclamation against, † upon. arch.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. xxii. Well maye I make an exclamacion Of ignoraunce.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxxii. 180. Charlys herynge this exclamacion of his subgettes … was right … heuy in his herte.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, Exclamacion (1710), 485. Ane Exclamacioun Aganis detractouris.
1530. Calisto & Melib., in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 54. Oh, his lamentations and exclamations on fortune.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), O ij b. The myserable person … maketh exclamacion vpon the rightwise goddes.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 425. Inferring an exclamation and outcrie, against the croked … condition of this life.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 52. These exactions…; They say They are deuis’d by you, or else you suffer Too hard an exclamation.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1754), 40. I might spend a great deal of Time in my Exclamations against the Follies, and indeed the Wickedness of those Things.
1777. Priestley, Disc. Philos. Necess., iii. 24. What exclamation and abuse must he not expect?
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xi. Dame Crank … began a horrible exclamation against Jack Hostler.
† 3. Formal declaration; proclamation. Const. of. Obs. Cf. EXCLAIM v. 3.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., II. v. E 2 b. Ile stand amaz’d, And fall in exclamations of thy vertues.
1631. T. Powell, Tom All Trades, 17. And many Patrons are content to present … upon … due exclamation of the integrity of the life of such suitors.
4. a. Rhet. = ECPHONESIS or EPIPHONEMA. b. Gram. = INTERJECTION. c. Note, point of exclamation, also (U.S.) Exclamation-mark or point: = Note of admiration: see ADMIRATION 4.
a. 1552. Huloet, Exclamation, epiphonema.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xix. (Arb.), 221. The figure of exclamation [marg. Ecphonisis or the Outcry].
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Exclamation … a Figure in Rhetorick; as Now I speak to thee O Africanus.
b. 1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., II. xv. § 123 (1875), 347. The lowest form of language is the exclamation, by which an entire idea is vaguely conveyed through a single sound.
c. 1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., *259. A note of Exclamation or Admiration, thus noted———!
1755. Johnson, Exclamation … a note by which a pathetical sentence is marked thus!
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 408. A sentence, in which any wonder or admiration is expressed … may be … terminated by a note of exclamation.
1864. Webster, Exclamation, A sign by which emphatical utterance or outcry is marked; thus [!];—called also exclamation point.
† d. Music. (See quot.) Obs.
1674. Playford, Skill Mus., I. xi. 39. Exclamation properly is no other thing, but the slacking of the Voice to re-inforce it somewhat more.
