Middle English Dictionary Entry
wī interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wī interj. |
| Etymology | Origin uncertain: prob. imitative, but also cp. OE wī- (in wī-lā-wei, var. of wā-lā-wā); sometimes difficult to distinguish from ME whī interj. (s.v. whī adv. & conj. 5.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. we interj., wei interj.
1.
Well, well then, why, ah: (a) preceding questions, usu. anxious, surprised, or indignant ones; a ~;
(b) used with statements, exhortations, demands, etc.; ~ whippe.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)90 : He þurh-sicheþ uches monnes þonc; wi, hwat scal us to rede?
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)105 : Hwet sculen ordlinghes don, þa swicen and to forsworene…Wi [McC: A wi; Dgb: Wei], hwi weren ho biȝeten, to hwon weren ho iborene?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3752 : ‘Consail me, fader, how to liue’; ‘Wi, quatkin consail mai i þe giue?’
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5013 : Wi [Göt: Qui], how sal beniamin come þare?
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)23845 : Wi, qui þan make we vs sua kene?
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.842 : Wy! Uncle myn…who tolde hym this?
b
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1548 : Wi! hit is þe more unriht Þat he his luue spene on þare Þat nis wurþ one of hire heare.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.445 : What eyleth yow to grucche thus and grone? Is it for ye wolde haue my queynte allone? Wy, taak it al! lo, haue it euery del!
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2300 : Wy, þresch on, þou þro mon, þou þretez to longe.
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Mil.(Heng)A.3285 : I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey; Wy [Elsm: Why], lat be…lat be, Nicholas!
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.738 : Thow wrecched mouses herte, Artow agast so that she wol the bite? Wy! Don this furred cloke upon thy sherte And folwe me, for I wol have the wite.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)517 : Wyth ‘wy, wyppe! Farwell,’ quod I, ‘þe Dewyll ys wppe!’