「#3689. 英語の間投詞」 ([2019-06-03-1]) に引き続いての話題.The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories の p. 554 に,"Natural exclamations" と題するボキャビル欄がある.主要な英語の間投詞 (interjection) が初出時代や起源の記述とともに列挙されているものだが,現代も含め各時代に次々と新しい間投詞が生まれているものなのだなあと発見でき,なかなかおもしろい.
| Interjection | First Attestation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| aw | mid 19th century in American English | expressing mild protest |
| faugh | mid 16th century | expressing disgust |
| hey | Middle English | said in attracting attention |
| hi | late Middle English | said in greeting |
| ho | Middle English | expressing surprise or derision |
| hoots | early 19th century, but mid 16th century as hoot | expressing impatience |
| hoy | late Middle English | said to attract attention |
| lo | Old English as lā | said to indicate an amazing event. |
| oh | Middle English | expressing entreaty or mild surprise |
| oof | mid 19th century | expressing alarm or annoyance |
| ooh | early 20th century | expressing delight or pain |
| oops | 1930s | said on making an error |
| ouch | mid 17th century | expressing pain |
| ow | mid 19th century | expressing pain |
| pooh | late 16th century | expressing disgust |
| pshaw | late 17th century | expressing impatience or contempt |
| shoo | late Middle English | said to frighten off the hearer |
| whee | 1920s | expressing delight |
| whisht | mid 16th century | said to hush the hearer |
| whoo | early 17th century | expressing surprise or delight |
| wow | early 16th century | expressing admiration |
| yah | early 17th century | expressing derision |
| yahoo | 1970s | expressing excitement |
| yeehaw | 1970s in American English | expressing exuberance |
| yeow | 1920s in American English | expressing shock |
| yippee | 1920s in American English | expressing wild excitement |
| yo | late Middle English | said in greeting |
| yoo-hoo | 1920s | said to attract attention |
| zowie | early 20th century in American English | expressing astonishment |
Powered by WinChalow1.0rc4 based on chalow