[Cf. LO (OE. lá and early ME. la).] An exclamation formerly used to introduce or accompany a conventional phrase or an address, or to call attention to an emphatic statement; † also la you. In recent use, a mere expression of surprise. Now only dial., vulgar, and arch.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 86. I thank you alwaies with my heart, la: with my heart. Ibid., 324. You doe your selfe wrong indeede—la. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., III. iv. 111. La you, and you speake ill of the diuell, how he takes it at heart.
1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, IV. ii. O la now! I swear and declare, it shan’t be so.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, IV. xii. La, ma’am, what doth your la’yship think.
1839. Dickens, Nich. Nick., x. La, Miss La Creevy, how very smirking.
1844. Willis, Lady Jane, II. 311. He’d a caressing way—but, la! you know it’s A sort of manner natural to poets!
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. Fleet, III. 239. ‘La, sir,’ she asked, ‘Is it the voice of your sweetheart?’
† b. Repeated (a) as a refrain; (b) as an expression of derision. Obs. (Hence LA-LA adj., = ‘so-so,’ poor.)
1578. Gude & Godl. B. (S.T.S.), 138. Christ … Quhilk meiklie for mankynde, Tholit to be pynde, On Croce Cruellie. La. La. Ibid., 83. La Lay La.
1607. Shaks., Timon, III. i. 22. [He] hath sent to your Lorship to furnish him: nothing doubting your present assistance therein. Luc. La, la, la, la: Nothing doubting sayes hee?
