wow
/waʊ/
interjection
Origin
Scots
wow — An exclamation of sorrow or surprise
Overview
Meaning Now
- Used to express strong feeling, such as amazement, pleasure, or surprise.
Language path
Scots → English
Earliest form
wow
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The word likely originated as an emotive cry, similar to 'woe' or 'oh', common in Northern Middle English and Scots. Its transformation into a strictly positive term of amazement is a relatively modern development in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Evolution
- 16th century
wow
“Exclamation of grief, sorrow, or wonder”
Initially common in Scots and Northern English dialects.
- 19th century
wow
“Expression of intense surprise or admiration”
Transitioned from an expression of sorrow to one of positive astonishment.
Connections
Related across languages
Middle English
wa
woe or sorrow
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Related to wow
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.