Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • interjection Used to express sorrow or anxious concern.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection Ireland Exclamation of dismay.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Irish Gaelic a Mhuire, Virgin Mary : a, O (from Old Irish á) + Muire, Mary.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Irish a Muire, lit. 'Oh Mary'.

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Examples

  • “Och — wirra sthrue then, and will you let me go? just listhen to that,” and another angry peal rang out, loud and repeated.

    Tales of all countries 2004

  • 'O, _wirra_, _wirra_, but afther this night I'll never be out mylone again.

    Adrift in the Ice-Fields Charles W. Hall

  • —Rann, a stanza; kailee (céilidhe), a visit in the evening; wirra (a mhuire), “Oh, Mary!

    Teig O’Kane and the Corpse 1921

  • Oh, wirra! wirra! and her an 'me wuz gittin' on so fine, too; and like as not this 'll start the morgage and the cancer on her again.

    Sowing Seeds in Danny 1908

  • "Ah, wirra, wirra!" wailed the cook, wringing his hands.

    Blazed Trail Stories and Stories of the Wild Life Stewart Edward White 1909

  • Wirra, wirra, why did I ever let myself be persuaded at all?

    The Irish Twins Lucy Fitch Perkins 1901

  • Wirra, wirra! but it's some folks have luck, says I, as the train took me out av '

    The Dop Doctor Richard Dehan 1897

  • But och wirra wirra -- the roof's off of the house -- och the look of the black houle wid the rafters stickin 'thro' it, and ne'er a breath of smoke, till me heart was sick watchin 'to see might there be an odd one; and the door clap-clappin'.

    Strangers at Lisconnel Jane Barlow 1887

  • Oh, wirra! what'll I ever say to the master? and you doing so beautiful!

    Charles O'Malley — Volume 1 Charles James Lever 1839

  • "Not a fair nor a market-town doesn't know her as well as -- Oh, wirra! wirra!"

    Handy Andy, Volume 2 — a Tale of Irish Life Samuel Lover 1832

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