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Whoa

//woʊ// intj, verb

Definitions

Intj
  1. 1
    Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down.

    "Whoa, Nelly!"

  2. 2
    An expression of surprise.

    "Whoa, are you serious?"

  3. 3
    Used as a meaningless filler in song lyrics.

    "I am the type who is liable to snipe you With two seconds left to go, whoa."

Verb
  1. 1
    To attempt to slow (an animal) by crying "whoa". transitive

    "He was whoaing the horses loudly, and they did seem to be going faster than usual—in fact, they were galloping."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Whoa (c. 1843) is a variant of woa (c. 1840), itself a variant of wo (c. 1787), from who (c. 1450), ultimately from Middle English ho, hoo (interjection), probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call). Compare German ho, Old French ho ! (“hold!, halt!”).

Etymology 2

Whoa (c. 1843) is a variant of woa (c. 1840), itself a variant of wo (c. 1787), from who (c. 1450), ultimately from Middle English ho, hoo (interjection), probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call). Compare German ho, Old French ho ! (“hold!, halt!”).

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