eheu

See also: ʻēheu

Latin

Etymology

Expressive; compare heu (“alas!”), and Sanskrit अहो (aho). Because of the latter comparison a Proto-Indo-European origin was traditionally assumed.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈeː.heu̯/, [ˈeː(ɦ)ɛu̯]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈe.eu̯/, [ˈɛːeu̯]

Interjection

ēheu

1. expression of pain; alas!
   • [1942, Robert Frost, “The Lesson for Today”, in A Witness Tree (in English):

     I can just hear you call your Palace class: / Come learn the Latin Eheu for alas.]

References

• “eheu”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “eheu”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• eheu in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.