ahemv.
/əˈhɛm/, /əˈhm/, U.S. /əˈhɛm/, /əˈhm/ intransitive. To exclaim ‘ahem’ (ahem int.). Also transitive with ‘ahem’ as object.In quot. 1839 transitive with away: to dismiss (a jocular mood) by exclaiming ‘ahem’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or exclamation > cry or exclaim [verb (transitive)] > specific cries or exclamations
ahem1839
ooh1961
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or exclamation > cry or exclaim [verb (intransitive)] > specific exclamations
ho1377
heave hoa1400
howc1450
whew1765
oh-oh1833
oh1837
yo-heave-ho1857
phew1858
ahem1876
oh-my1893
hooch1896
yah1904
ooh1930
ooh-la-la1950
ooh-ooh1960
1839 Fraser's Mag. 19 125 He immediately ‘a-hems’ away his jocularity.
1876 G. Meredith Beauchamp's Career III. ix. 166 Tuckham brushed his hand over his mouth and ahemed.
1891 G. Meredith One of our Conquerors I. xiii. 240 He..pulled the waistcoat, and swelled it, ahemming.
1913 Amer. Mag. May 55 She ahemmed impatiently.
1982 Boys' Life Aug. 4/2 ‘Ahem!’ ahemmed Pedro.
2008 M. Hockney Millionaires' Death Club ix. 55 Someone ahemmed. ‘Oh, sorry,’ I said, ‘I didn't see you.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
ahemint.n.
/əˈhm/, /hm/, /əˈhɛm/, U.S. /əˈhm/, /hm/, /əˈhɛm/ A. int.
An exclamation representing a slight cough or clearing of the throat, used (a) to attract attention, esp. prior to speaking (b) to express hesitation, (mock) disapproval, embarrassment, suggestiveness, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [interjection] > emphasizing a following statement
whatOE
loOE
lookOE
aha1225
loura1225
halec1300
why1545
if (also and) you pleasec1563
ahem1606
I say1613
ahey1696
sithee1828
please it you1881
lookit1907
the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > utterance expressing hesitation [interjection]
hum1598
ha1609
haw1679
ahem1763
haw-haw1834
h'm1854
uh1962
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > other vocal sounds > [interjection] > hem
hemc1525
ahem1763
1606 No-body & Some-body sig. D2v Ahem boy, Nobody is sound yet for all his troubles.
1639 J. Taylor Iuniper Lect. 232 Shee'le daunce and sing, a hem boyes, hey all sixe, Shee's steele to th'backe, all mirth, all Meretrix.
1763 C. Johnstone Reverie (new ed.) II. 151 Hem! ahem! In the first place, said he, clearing his voice.
1814 J. Boswell Justiciary Opera 65 Gal-lery—si-lence—Ahem!
1848 G. E. Jewsbury Let. 12 Aug. (1892) 252 George Sand corresponds with Miss ——, and calls her the ‘sister of her soul’. Ahem!
1898 Cent. Mag. Sept. 732/1 ‘You are—ahem!—professional people, are you not?’ He phrased it as delicately as he could.
1928 R. Campbell Wayzgoose ii. 58 Then having seen his error, [he] paled with fear And coughed—Ahem, we'll leave the matter here!
1968 Life 19 Jan. r10 (advt.) Our new portable color TV..wins every other comparison test with (ahem) flying colors.
1990 Computer Lang. Oct. 144/3 He believes he has finally found tasks that match his—ahem—unique skills.
2007 S. Kandel Christietown 97 Ahem! May I have everyone's attention?
B. n.
An exclamation of ‘ahem’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > other vocal sounds > [noun] > hemming
hemming1470
hem1547
ahem1823
1823 Farmers iii. 116 Poor Moorsby,..after many ahems and round about speeches, contrived to lay his case.
1847 Yale Lit. Mag. Aug. 416 Obediah sat..quite uneasy, and after sundry ahems,..withdrew from the room.
1929 D. H. Lawrence Pansies 147 They were just a bloody collective fraud, That was what their Ahem! meant.
1996 R. R. Osmer Confirmation 219 I hope to provoke ‘Ahas’ and not ‘Ahems’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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v.1839int.n.1606