Learn English – the meaning of “well-a-well”

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I've had a question from an English language student who is reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

He has a problem understanding what 'well-a-well' means in the following quote. I've searched and can't find anything online.

Has anyone come across this before? Do we interpret is as just a colloquial form of 'well' as introducing a point. Is it used in contemporary US? (I'm British). I did say to the student that maybe it would be better to read a book from the 20th or 21st century but I would still like to go back to him with some information if possible.

Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart almost breaks. Well-a-well, man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the Scripture says, and I reckon it's so.

Thank you.

Best Answer

The OED attributes this now rare construct to Scottish and Irish English (northern) with the sense of 'expressing surprise, anticipation, resignation, or acquiescence'. It gives among several examples:

The old woman tried to comfort her, beginning with her accustomed, ‘Well-a-well!’ (Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton, 1848) and Tam simply wad say, ‘Weel-a-weel, I'll jist by your counsel be guided.’ (David Willox, Poems, 1898).

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