()  formerly 2-6 a! [perh. a. OFr. a, ah, since not found in OE. Cf. MHG. â, ON. æ. In northern dial. pronounced (e), 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 (e) in both senses.)
 
  c1440 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!) a1842 TENNYSON Golden 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 SHAKES. Rom. & Jul. V. i. 10 Ah me, how sweet is loue. c1720 PRIOR (J.) Ah me! the blooming pride of May, and that of beauty, are but one.
 

    3. Entreaty, appeal, remonstrance; passing in former times into simple exclamation to excite attention, where O! would now be used. (North. dial. still have man!)
 
  c1280 A Sarmun in E.E.P. (1862) 1 er for he seiith. a! man hab munde at of is lif er commi ende. 1382 WYCLIF 2 Cor. vi. 11 A! e Corynthis, oure mouth is opyn to ou. c1450 Merlin 353 A here, Arthur, ride faste. 1593 SHAKES. 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. a1843 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.
 
  c1435 Torr. Portugal 184 A! fellow! wylt thow so? 1580 BARET Alvearie A253 Ah, ah, I dye poore wench in laughing thee to scorne. 1593 SHAKES. 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.
 

    6. Realization, discovery, inspiration.
 
  c1785 W. BLAKE Island in Moon iii, in Compl. Writings (1972) 47 ‘It was Phebus,’ said the Epicurean. ‘Ah, that was the Gentleman,’ said Aradobo. 1915 CONRAD Victory III. vii. 245 Suddenly he moved, and murmured: ‘Ah, here's the trolley.’ 1934 W. B. YEATS Words upon Window Pane 58 Where did I put that tea-caddy? Ah! there it is. 1955 J. P. DONLEAVY Ginger Man xvii. 201 Ah, you want money, Miss Frost. Money is what you're after. 1972 T. STOPPARD Jumpers II. 62 Ah!I knew there was something.