A-okay en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˌeɪ.oʊˈkeɪ/ (General-American)
- /ˌeɪ.əʊˈkeɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
First attested in 1952 in the US, popularized in the 1960s by John A. Powers as NASA's public affairs officer for Project Mercury: the "voice of Mercury Control". Intensive form of okay, presumably "all [systems] okay".
Meanings
-
(colloquial) In perfect order; thoroughly acceptable.
Any KOA is A-OK as long as I'm with you.
2013, Kacey Musgraves, My House:1952, advertisement by Midvac Steels. "The Golden Age of Advertising - the 50s", p. 57, Ed. Jim Heimann, Taschen 2005. A-OK for tomorrow's missile demands.
1970, Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley, Tarkio, "Oh Mommy" It says right there in the constitution, It's really A-okay to have a revolution, When the leaders that you choose Really don't fit their shoes.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| a-okay | alternative | lexicographic | |
| AOK | alternative | lexicographic | |
| more A-okay | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most A-okay | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| A-OK | alternative | lexicographic |