How Do You Spell ZOUNDS?

Pronunciation: [zˈa͡ʊndz] (IPA)

Zounds is an archaic interjection with the meaning "goodness gracious," or "exclamation of surprise." It is spelled with a "z" and a "s" even though the "s" is pronounced like a "z." This is because in Middle English, the word was spelled with a "ȝ" which represented the sound of "gh." As sound changes occurred, the "ȝ" became the letter "z" and the "gh" sound became the "s" sound, but the spelling remained the same. The phonetic transcription of "zounds" is /zaʊndz/.

ZOUNDS Meaning and Definition

1. Zounds is an interjection that originated in the 16th century and is mostly considered archaic or obsolete in modern usage. It is formed by combining the words "God's" and "wounds." The word "zounds" is a euphemistic oath, where wounds refers to the injuries inflicted on Jesus Christ during crucifixion. Zounds is an exclamation used to express surprise, astonishment, or indignation.

   The term zounds was commonly used during the Elizabethan era in the works of William Shakespeare and other playwrights of the time. It was usually employed to convey a sense of shock, disbelief, or intense emotion. The usage of zounds allowed individuals to avoid blasphemy and still express their feelings in a colorful way.

   Although infrequently used today, zounds carries historical significance and provides insight into the linguistic customs of the past. Its archaic nature renders it more suitable for period dramas, literature, or historical reenactments than contemporary conversations.

   In summary, "zounds" is an archaic interjection originating from the combination of "God's" and "wounds." It was commonly used during the Elizabethan era to express surprise, astonishment, or indignation. While no longer commonplace, understanding the meaning and usage of zounds helps to appreciate the linguistic customs and cultural context of the past.

2. An old form of oath, expressive of anger or wonder.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for ZOUNDS

• shounds
• gournds
• soulds
• souneds
• soundm
• sonds
• osunds
• soulnds
• souinds
• gounds
• saunds
• roundys
• tounds
• soends
• soounds
• souunds
• gunds
• sounfds
• soumds
• soundes
• soundd
• ounds
• seunds
• soiunds
• sounids
• sounbds
• woundes
• saounds
• isounds
• sunds
• srounds
• poiunds
• sonunds
• scounds
• soands
• souds
• thounds
• pouinds
• dounds
• sownds
• counds
• sounnds
• soundss
• nounds
• sopunds
• spounds
• spunds
• doands
• Zownds
• counde
• zAUND
• zourus
• zooods
• Tounda
• zowndz
• zowndys
• zyuinds
• zaoundz
• aoundes
• Zoand
• Zounik

Etymology of ZOUNDS

The word "zounds" is an archaic interjection used to express surprise or indignation. It was commonly used in Elizabethan and Jacobean English, particularly in the works of William Shakespeare and other playwrights of the time.

The word "zounds" is a contraction of the phrase "God's wounds". These wounds refer to the wounds of Christ, specifically the wounds from the crucifixion, which were considered sacred in Christian theology. Therefore, "zounds" can be understood as a euphemistic way of invoking God's wounds while refraining from taking the Lord's name in vain.

During the Elizabethan era, exclamations that included references to religious matters were quite common, and "zounds" was one of the many such expressions. Although it is not commonly used today, it remains a prominent feature of the linguistic style of that time.