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by the rood. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
by the rood, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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English
Prepositional phrase
by the rood
- (archaic) Used as an oath to emphasize the veracity of an associated statement; equivalent to "I swear on Christ's cross."
1577, Nicholas Breton, The Workes of a Young Wyt, London: Thomas Dawson and Thomas Gardyner:Sim[on]. I pray thee tell me now, coulde such a shrow as thou,
Content thy selfe with such a sheepe as I, how sayst thou now?
Sus[an]. A sheepe, nay by the Roode, I rather would haue guest
you, more a Hog like, then a sheepe […]
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Gertrude. Have you forgot me?
Hamlet. No, by the rood, not so!
1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter 9, in The White Company, New York, N.Y., Boston, Mass.: Thomas Y Crowell & Company , →OCLC:By the rood! if I had my will upon ye, I should nail you upon the abbey doors, as they hang vermin before their holes.
See also