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zounds. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
zounds, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
zounds in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
zounds you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
Abbreviation of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.
Pronunciation
Interjection
zounds
- (minced oath, chiefly dated) Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!
1870, R.M. Ballantyne, The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands:Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it.
1900, J.C. Hutcheson, Bob Strong's Holidays:"Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?"
Alternative forms
Synonyms