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Which part of speech is the word "wait" in this context?
Wait! You forgot your keys!
Is it a noun, verb, or else? I couldn't find any discussion about this, the only parts of speech I could find in my dictionary is either a noun or verb. I'm using OALD and I'm also not sure whether an exclamation is even a part of speech, but I feel it's an exclamation since there's an exclamation mark/sign (!).
No it is not an exclamation but an order.
According to EL&U - forming valid one word sentences:
Interrogatives (who?), imperatives (stop), declaratives (me), locatives (here), and nominatives (Jane) all allow for single-word statements, as do adjectives, adverbs and so on. You'd be hard-pressed to find a category of words that are not amenable to the possibility.
A sentence must have a subject (noun) and a verb (action). However, when we speak we don't always use complete sentences. So there are sentences that are made up of just one word followed by a punctuation mark. This is allowable because in one-word sentences either the noun or the verb is implied. Source
In a one-word sentence, the subject and the action of the sentence is implied in the single word. Source
From these sources, we can deduce it is a Imperative, which is a verb, or a verb in the imperative mood:
According to Source (download):
Imperatives are verbs used to give orders, commands, warning or instructions, and (if you use "please") to make a request. It is one of the three moods of an English verb (indicative, imperative and subjunctive).
According to Grammarly blog - imperative verbs:
Imperative verbs are verbs that create an imperative sentence (i.e. a sentence that gives an order or command)
Or more specifically, an intransitive verb:
According to masterclass.com:
Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not require a direct object. Intransitive verbs follow the subject and complete an independent clause, and they may be followed by prepositions, adverbs, or another clause to further contextualize the action of the verb.
Grammatically, this is an intransitive verb in the imperative mood, like “Stop!” or “Listen!” However, it is used more like an interjection. We could also say, “Wait, you forgot your keys!” similar to other interjections like “Oh no, you forgot your keys!” Separating an actual command, like “Search” or “Halt,” from a complete sentence like “You forgot your keys,” though, would need a full stop, excalmation mark or conjunction. Just a comma between them would make it a comma splice.
In context, though, the speaker is not really asking the other person to wait for something. If someone told me, “Wait,” I would not expect to have to actually wait, but to be told or asked something important immediately. It is also much less rude to say “wait” than to give someone a direct order, such as “Stop!” (I would often add “please” or “could you” to a command like stop in contexts where that is not necessary with wait.)
Merriam-Webster lists this idiomatic usage as sense 5 of the verb wait (with two examples of usage).
: pause, stop—used to preface an interjected question, correction, etc.
"Wait, Mom. Wait. What did you say?" I said. "He left you what?"
— Frederick BuschSo wait, what's so bad about wanting to eat right?
— Annie Daly
This dictionary calls it an intransitive verb, and an interjection.
The Collins Dictionary does not have this exact usage, but does describe a similar one:
Wait is used in expressions such as wait a minute, wait a second, and wait a moment to interrupt someone when they are speaking, for example because you object to what they are saying or because you want them to repeat something.
The Merriam-Webster examples are closer to yours, but this is pretty similar: the speaker is trying to interrupt the other person, but from leaving without their keys, rather than speaking. And indeed, the examples of usage in Merriam-Webster are of asking one’s mother to repeat something, and interrupting someone because the speaker disagrees.
So it means to stop or pause what you are doing. In this sense, it is always followed by an urgent question, piece of news, or refutation.
It could also be considered an interjection, specifically a Volitive interjection.
According to Webster,
Definition of interjection 1: an ejaculatory utterance usually lacking grammatical connection: such as a: a word or phrase used in exclamation (such as Heavens! Dear me!) b: a cry or inarticulate utterance (such as Alas! ouch! phooey! ugh!) expressing an emotion
and with regards to a Volititive interjection, chegg defines it as
[Volitive interjections] convey the speaker’s wishes and desires and express commands and requests. Volitive interjections replace “I want” phrases. For example, you can use “Shh!” to mean “I want you to be quiet.” Similarly, you may utter the interjection “Ahem” to convey that “I request your attention to what I am going to say.”
In this case, you're requesting the person to wait, so it would replace "I want you to wait" with just the single word.
See also the School House Rock on Interjections!
