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 Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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“Och — wirra sthrue then, and will you let me go? just listhen to that,” and another angry peal rang out, loud and repeated.
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'O, _wirra_, _wirra_, but afther this night I'll never be out mylone again.
Adrift in the Ice-Fields Charles W. Hall
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Rann, a stanza; kailee (céilidhe), a visit in the evening; wirra (a mhuire), Oh, Mary!
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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.
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"Ah, wirra, wirra!" wailed the cook, wringing his hands.
Blazed Trail Stories and Stories of the Wild Life Stewart Edward White 1909
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Wirra, wirra, why did I ever let myself be persuaded at all?
The Irish Twins Lucy Fitch Perkins 1901
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Wirra, wirra! but it's some folks have luck, says I, as the train took me out av '
The Dop Doctor Richard Dehan 1897
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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
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Oh, wirra! what'll I ever say to the master? and you doing so beautiful!
Charles O'Malley — Volume 1 Charles James Lever 1839
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"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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