zounds en · INTJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
Minced form of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.
Meanings
-
(dated, qualifier:minced oath) Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!
c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):"Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?"
1900, J.C. Hutcheson, Bob Strong's Holidays:Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it.
1870, R.M. Ballantyne, The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'zounds | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
'dswounds · 'swounds · zooterkins · gadswoons