zounds
Old English oath
Zounds is an archaic oath expressing surprise or indignation, common in Elizabethan drama: Zounds, what treachery is this!
The word is a euphemistic contraction of "God's wounds," referring to Christ's crucifixion injuries.
Now used only for deliberate archaism or comic effect.
Dated mild oath
- crikeyMild surprise interjection
- blimeyBritish surprise interjection
- gollyGentle exclamation of surprise
- goshTame exclamation of surprise
jeepers · goodness gracious · heavens · mercy · strewth · cor blimey · jiminy · cripes
Of late 1500s England
- ShakespeareElizabethan dramatist and poet
- forsoothArchaic emphatic affirmation
- pritheeArchaic entreaty word
- fieArchaic disgust interjection
verily · egad · marry · methinks · hark · alack · heyday · lackaday
Intense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- incredulityInability to accept something
startlement · exclamation · outburst · reaction · alarm · wonder · bewilderment · stupefaction
Irreverence toward the sacred
- euphemismMild substitute for bluntness
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
- curseInvoked harm through words
swear · invocation · ejaculation · imprecation · vulgarity · taboo · sanitized · bowdlerized
egad
Dated mild oath
- crikeyMild surprise interjection
- blimeyBritish surprise interjection
- gollyGentle exclamation of surprise
gosh · jeepers · goodness gracious · heavens · mercy · strewth · cor blimey · jiminy · cripes
Elizabethan
Of late 1500s England
- ShakespeareElizabethan dramatist and poet
- forsoothArchaic emphatic affirmation
- pritheeArchaic entreaty word
fie · verily · egad · marry · methinks · hark · alack · heyday · lackaday
astonishment
Intense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
incredulity · startlement · exclamation · outburst · reaction · alarm · wonder · bewilderment · stupefaction · thunderstruck
blasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
- euphemismMild substitute for bluntness
- expletiveProfane emotional utterance
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
curse · swear · invocation · ejaculation · imprecation · vulgarity · taboo · sanitized · bowdlerized