English Interjections in Fifteenth Century II 
Towneley, x, 313, Joseph: Alas, what am I wo! York, i, 115, 
Lucifer: Yhe ly, owte, allas! Robin Hood Ballad, 8th fytte: 
Alas! then said good Robin, Alas and well a wo! Morte 
Darthur, 11, ch. 18: Allas, sayd balyn, that euer I shold see this 
day! Nativity, Herod: Into Egypt? alas for woe! The Murn- 
ing Maiden: My sweit, allace! quhy dois he so? The Quare of 
Jelusy, 202: Allace, pe wo! allace pe sad greuance! 
0, Oo, ow, in ME. expresses physical pain, sorrow, terror, sur- 
prise, impatience, or exultation. Cf. sections I, II, III, IV, IX, 
and XI. 
York Plays, vii, 79, Brewbarret: O! maister Caym, I haue 
broken my to! York, xxxiv, 154, Mary: Oo! doulfully nowe 
is he dighte. Morte Darthur, ii, ch. 6: O Balyn two bodyes 
thou hast slayne. Castell of Perseverance, 2989: ow, ow! my 
good gothe al to wrak! Magnyfycence, 2048: O feble Fortune, 
O doulfull Destyny! 
out, owte. See owt expressing surprise (1); consternation (II) ; 
and anger (IV). 
York Plays, i, 97, Lucifer: Owte owte! harrowe! helples, 
slyke hote at es here. York, i, 104, Lucifer: Owte! ay wala- 
way! I well enew in wo nowe! Towneley, ix, 74, Imperator: 
Out, harow, full wo is me! York, i, 105, Diabolus: Owte! 
owte! I go wode for wo. Castell of Perseverance, 2148: 
Out! myn herte gynneth to breke. Castell of Per., 2200: Out! 
my prowde bak is bent! 
wa, wo, woe. OF. wi, wd, modern woe. Compare Scotch usage, 
wae’s me! For further discussion of OE. wa cf. we, express- 
ing surprise (1). 
York Mystery Plays, i, 113, Lucifer: Walaway! wa! es me 
now, nowe es it war pane it was. York Plays, xiii, 143, Joseph: 
Allas! me is full wa! Towneley, xiii, 35, Pastor: Woe is me 
this dystres!| Quare of Jelusy, 202: Allace, pe wo! allace, pe 
sad greuance! Merlin, 439: Ha, Sire, sche Seide, I am ful wo! 
Nativity, Herod: Into Egypt! alas for woe! 
woo (wa) worthe the. Meaning, woe come to thee! For woo, 
ace 
