forsooth, adv.
(fəˈsuːθ)
Forms: 1 forsóð, 3–4 forsoþ(e, 4 south. vorzoþe, 3–6 forsoth(e, (3 forsotht(h, 4 for-suth, 4 forsoothe), 4–5 Sc. for-suth, (4 Sc. fursuth, 5 for-sute, Sc. -suith), 6 forsouth, (Sc. -soith), 6– forsooth.
[OE. forsóð, f. for prep. + sóð, sooth n., written as one word.]
1. † a. In truth, truly. Also in phrase, forsooth to say, forsooth and forsooth (cf. verily, verily), forsooth and God. Obs. b. Now only used parenthetically with an ironical or derisive statement.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xiv. §3 Wite þu forsoþ þæt nan ᵹod ne deraþ þam þe hit ah. a 1225 Ancr. R. 88 Auh forsoðe so hit is. c 1300 Harrow. Hell 40 He nam him..Vnto helle for soþe to sei. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xvii. 303 And when a man swereþ for soþ, for soþ he hit troweþ. c 1481 Plumpton Corr. 42 For sute, madam, I lost all that I payd for him. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. Pref. 2 Forsothe and God, this hath moued me at the highe comaundement of my..lorde kynge Henry the VIII. 1547 Homilies i. Of Faith (1859) 43 He confirmeth with a double oath, saying, Forsooth and forsooth I say unto you [etc.]. 1642 R. Carpenter Experience i. xiv. 107 After every word even when they speake to young greene Boyes, they come with yes forsooth, and no forsooth. 1667 Pepys Diary 25 Mar., By and by comes Mr. Lowther and his wife and mine, and into a box, forsooth, neither of them being dressed. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 79 ¶9 She has no Secrets, forsooth, which should make her afraid to speak her Mind. 1789 Mrs. Piozzi Journ. France I. 109 That they might be at liberty forsooth to clap and hiss. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1865) 202 He reproaches me with treachery, because forsooth I had not sent him a challenge! 1842 Browning Waring i. ii, How, forsooth, was I to know it? 1863 P. Barry Dockyard Econ. 165 Reserve forsooth! 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & Viola I. 21 A very happy couple we should have made, for-sooth. |
2. quasi-n. An act of saying forsooth.
| 1712 Steele Spect. No. 266 ¶4 Her innocent forsooths, yes's, and't please you's. |
Hence forˈsooth n., one who uses the word frequently, an affected speaker. forˈsooth v. trans. to say ‘forsooth’ to, treat ceremoniously.
| 1604 B. Jonson Penates Wks. (Rtldg.) 541 You sip so like a forsooth of the city. 1660–1 Pepys Diary 16 Jan., The sport was how she had intended to have kept herself unknown, and how the Captaine..of the Charles had forsoothed her, though he knew her well and she him. |