Forthright's Forsoothery
Zounds! Whosoever shall gaze hither may find a trove of long-lost words and betimes cry, "Heyday!" or "Gramercy!" No, seriously, though: This word list exemplifies "forsoothery" (sometimes also known as "gadzookery"): archaic terms, especially as used in modern literature. These 134 words were formerly used as everyday adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections and other little words, but which now are only found in books, movies and other works of fiction that use them archaically, facetiously or knowingly. If you read a certain style of questionable fantasy or historical literature (as I have been known to do from time to time), you will no doubt have encountered examples of forsoothery.
Word
|
Definition
| abaft
| toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
| afore
| before
| agone
| ago
| alack
| expression of sorrow or regret
| alee
| on or toward the lee
| alow
| below
| amain
| to a high degree; exceedingly; at full speed
| an
| if
| anent
| about; concerning
| anon
| at once; immediately
| aright
| right; correctly
| aroint
| begone
| athwart
| across; in opposition to; sideways; transversely
| aught
| anything at all; something
| avaunt
| away; hence
| aye
| yes
| beforetime
| formerly
| belike
| most likely; probably
| betimes
| in short time; speedily
| betwixt
| between
| certes
| in truth; certainly
| clepe
| to name; to call
| eft
| again; afterwards
| eftsoons
| soon after
| egad
| mild oath
| eke
| in addition; also; likewise
| endlong
| lengthwise
| enow
| enough
| ere
| before
| erelong
| before long; soon
| erewhile
| until now
| eyne
| eyes
| fain
| happy; inclined; pleased
| fie
| expression of disgust or disapproval
| forby
| past; near
| fore
| at an earlier time or period
| forsooth
| in truth; indeed
| forthwith
| immediately
| froward
| turned away; self-willed; unreasonable; perverse; adverse
| gadzooks
| mild oath
| gar
| mild oath
| gardyloo
| warning cry
| gramercy
| expression of gratitude or surprise
| hark
| to pay close attention; to listen
| heretofore
| until now
| heyday
| expression of elation or wonder
| hight
| named; called; to command or call
| hist
| expression used to attract attention
| hither
| to this place
| howbeit
| although
| ifsoever
| if ever
| ilke
| kind or nature
| inly
| inwardly; thoroughly
| iwis
| surely; certainly
| lackaday
| expression of regret or deprecation
| lief
| soon; gladly
| marry
| expression of surprised agreement
| maugre
| in spite of
| mayhap
| perhaps
| meet
| fitting; proper
| meseems
| it seems to me
| methinks
| I believe; I think
| nary
| not a one; not at all
| natheless
| nevertheless; notwithstanding
| needs
| of necessity; necessarily
| nigh
| nearly; almost
| nowise
| not at all
| od
| mild oath
| or
| before
| parcel
| partly
| pardie
| mild oath; certainly or truly
| parfay
| by my faith; verily
| peradventure
| perhaps; possibly; by adventure; by chance
| prithee
| expression of wish or request
| puissant
| powerful; mighty
| quotha
| expression of surprise or contempt
| rede
| to counsel or advise
| ruth
| pity; remorse; sorrow
| semovedly
| separately
| siege
| seat or throne
| sith
| since
| somedeal
| somewhat
| somewhither
| to some place; somewhere
| sooth
| truth; reality; in truth
| soothfast
| truthful; honest; faithful
| soothly
| in truth; truly
| speed
| prosperity; success
| strait
| strict; rigorous; constricted
| sweven
| vision seen in sleep; a dream
| swink
| to toil; to labour
| swith
| instantly; quickly
| swoopstake
| in an indiscriminate manner
| teen
| injury; grief
| thereinto
| into that or it
| thereon
| thereupon
| therewith
| thereupon; forthwith
| therewithal
| besides
| thither
| to that place
| thole
| to endure; to suffer
| thro
| through
| tother
| the other
| twain
| two
| twixt
| between
| usward
| toward us
| verily
| truly; certainly; confidently
| wanion
| ill luck; misfortune
| weed
| garment or outfit worn during mourning
| wellaway
| expression of sorrow or lamentation; alas
| whenas
| when
| whencesoever
| from whatsoever place or source
| whereagainst
| against which
| whereinsoever
| in whatsoever respect or place
| whereinto
| into which; into what
| whereof
| of what
| whereon
| on what
| whereout
| out of which
| wherethrough
| through which; through the agency of
| whereuntil
| to what
| wherewith
| with what
| whichsoever
| every one that
| whilom
| formerly; once; former
| whither
| to what place
| whithersoever
| to any place whatsoever
| whitherward
| toward what or which place
| whosoever
| every one who
| wist
| to know
| withal
| besides; therewith; nevertheless; with
| wood
| mad; insane; wild
| yare
| marked by quickness and agility; nimble; prepared; easily handled
| yede
| to go
| yoicks
| expression of surprise or excitement
| yon
| yonder; that over there; those over there
| yonside
| on the farther side of
| zounds
| mild oath
|
I hope you have found this site to be useful. If you have any corrections, additions, or comments, please contact me. Please note that I am not able to respond to all requests. Please consult a major dictionary before e-mailing your query. All material on this page © 1996-2021 Stephen Chrisomalis. Links to this page may be made without permission.
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