forsooth

9.9

To show surprise or that you do not believe something, often in an old joking way

adverb
/fɔrˈsuθ/

Archaic

: en verdad

Forsooth, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the enormous fish he caught.

Examples

He claimed to have discovered a treasure, but forsooth, his story was full of holes.
She said she would run a marathon next month; forsooth, I hope she trains properly.
A lot of praise Odin talk, but it was good for vocabulary development, you know, Forsooth Henceforth.

Synonyms

indeed

vsforsooth

Informal

146 1.0

To show surprise or doubt, often with irony

is archaic or playful rather than neutral modern speech

in truth

vsforsooth

84 3.8

Actually, what is said is true even if people think otherwise

is used more for surprise or disbelief in archaic or playful speech

say what

vsforsooth

Informal

68 9.8

A short phrase showing surprise and not believing what someone said

is archaic or humorous rather than a casual modern exclamation

I dare say

vsforsooth

3 7.7

Said when you doubt what someone says, often ironically

is archaic or playful rather than ironic modern understatement

soth

vsforsooth

Archaic

9.9

A word said to show that something is true

often shows surprise or disbelief rather than only asserting truth

holy shamoley

vsforsooth

Slang

9.9

A short shout to show surprise or amazement

is archaic or playful rather than a modern informal shout

Surface Forms

forsooth positive

Morphology

forsooth = sooth (opaque) = for + sooth + for

Although formally analyzable as 'for' + 'sooth', 'sooth' is an archaic word meaning 'truth' that modern learners are unlikely to know, so the meaning is not transparently derivable.

Etymology

Forsooth comes from old English parts for and sooth, with sooth meaning 'truth', so it originally meant 'in truth'. Today forsooth is used in a joking or old-fashioned way to show surprise or disbelief.