papae

Latin

Etymology

Onomatopoeic, a regional Mediterranean interjection cognate to Ancient Greek παπαῖ (papaî). Compare babae.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /paˈpae̯/, [päˈpäe̯]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /paˈpe/, [päˈpɛː]

Interjection

papae

1. whoa, ooh, wow, ouch! (expressing any sudden emotion)
   • 524 CE, Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy 4.2p:

     Tum ego: "Papae" inquam "ut magna promittis!"

     "Whoa!", I said, "You promise such great things!"

Further reading

• “papae” on page 1422 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (2nd ed., 2012)
• “papae”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “papae”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• papae in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.