[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [FULL LIST]

law interjection An expression of surprise, wonderment, exasperation, recognition or other emotion, often to respond to a question or to agree with a statement. [apparently coalescence of lo and law (s variant of Lord); OED3 la interj and law interj now only dialect, vulgar, and archaic; DARE labels this usage “now chiefly South, South Midland”]

1864 Chapman CW Letters (April 23) I would not like to go any futher South for it will be two hot down thare for us this Summer, but law we shall have To go whare ever we are orderd. 1937 Hall Coll (Cades Cove TN) You'd orter see them. Law! Ibid. (Cosby Creek TN) Why law, yes! 1957 GSMNP-23:2:20 Oh law, yeah, I’ve been to Cades Cove back when I was a little boy, a young fellow. 1971 AOHP/ALC-137 Law, they used to have the awfullest times they ever was. 1989 Matewan OHP-9 Back then they just, law, just died everywhere with it [=the flu].