32 Mary Crawford 
devill! will itt no bettir be? York, xi, 325, Rex: No, devill! 
and sitte they so in pees? 
XV. Doubt, Disapproval 
The form listed as expressing doubt or disapproval is one very 
common in modern usage, although its variant, ahem, occurs more 
frequently. 
hem. Originally a vocalized representation of the sound made in 
clearing the throat with a slight effort. Used to attract atten- 
tion, or to express doubt or hesitation. 
Magnyfycence, 664: Hem! that lyke I nothynge at all. 
Magn., 211: Hem, Syr, yet beware of “ Had I wyste!” 
XVI. Various Calls 
1. Calls for Help 
Middle English literature is rich in cries and calls of all kinds. 
As is to be expected, these are most common in the dramatic lit- 
erature, and are ascribed most frequently to rustics, as the shep- 
herds, Cain, Esau, and others of the less dignified characters. 
Some of the most unusual of these expressions are found in 
modern dialect speech. 
harrowe, herrowe, harow, haro(o), harro, harowe. (The form 
haroye is found in the Chester Plays.) Meaning is help! Cf. 
French haro. Origin uncertain. It may be merely an imita- 
tive sound. Adopted from OF. haro, haron, harol, of obscure 
origin. Obsolete in English since the beginning of the seven- 
teenth century. As early as the fourteenth century, the popu- 
lar idea was that this expression was a call upon .Rau, Rollo, 
or Raoul, who led the Northmen to France. But this (cf. 
Oxford Dictionary) is inconsistent with the form of the word. 
Littré says: “Diez condemns the ha Raoul theory. He sug- 
gests the OHG. hera or hara, Old Saxon herod, which meant 
here.’ This accords with the meaning, which is, come here! 
come to my help! 
Gavin Douglas, King Hart: Quhat was peir mair, but 
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