Wellaway. That is all.

wellaway

\ WEL-uh-WEY \  , interjection;

1. (Used to express sorrow.)

 

I couldn't believe it either.  First of all, I've never ever heard this word in my life, it sounds 19th century and there's no way I was able to use it with other people around.  Although, it does have a much more tame element to it...

 

Think about it, how many times have we accidentally tripped, messed up, or found ourselves in compromising situations?  It's at these times that we often (or maybe it's just me, though I highly doubt it) find ourselves shouting interjections like, "crap!" or "shit!" or "dammit!"  If yelling these words to the open air for all to hear is a crime, then I plead guilty.  Because if you really think about it, these are just 1-2 syllable words expressing what's going on in my head, which are typically things like: 

 

-"OH WOW people did not just see me do that!"

-"The frustration!  The horror!  THE AGONY!"

-"Shout to make them think you're in control!"

 

Yes, we're all guilty of this one.  Therefore I propose a challenge to all of you loyal readers: do not shout these mindless words that end up on television and in the movies.  Scream no more the profanity you wouldn't want your grandmother and baby cousin to hear.  Instead, shout "WELLAWAY!" as loudly as you can.  Dictionary.com suggested these as examples:

 

Quotes:

She entered under the dome weeping and wailing, “ Wellaway !"

-- edited by Leonard Charles Smither, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

" Wellaway . My little son so dear!" So sad he was that no one could cheer up at all…

-- Marijane Osborn, Romancing the Goddess

Origin:

Wellaway  is related to the contemporary word woe . It came from the Old English phrase wā lā wā  meaning "woe! lo! woe!"

 

I used this very word tonight (in the privacy of my own room) while playing a rigorous game of Song Pop.  I was in the midst of guessing random songs, when I lost a round to someone I really should not have lost to.  In a heated moment of angst and frustration, I shouted, "WELLAWAY DAMMIT!"

 

So there, I completed half of the challenge I pose to you.  We will clean up public profanity by introducing old words that will probably end up being used as profanity in the end.  But for now it's just our little challenge.  ;)