forsooth

adverb

for·​sooth fər-ˈsüth 

: in truth : indeed

—often used to imply contempt or doubt

Did you know?

Forsooth sounds like a dated word, but it is still part of modern English; it is primarily used in humorous or ironic contexts, or in a manner intended to play off the word's archaic vibe. Forsooth was formed from the combination of the preposition for and the noun sooth. Sooth survives as both a noun (meaning "truth" or "reality") and an adjective (meaning "true," "sweet," or "soft"), though it is rarely used by contemporary speakers and writers. It primarily lives on in the verb soothe (which originally meant "to show, assert, or confirm the truth of") and in the noun soothsayer (that is, "truthsayer"), a name for someone who can predict the future.

Synonyms

• actually
• admittedly
• frankly
• honestly
• indeed
• really
• truly
• truthfully
• verily

Examples of forsooth in a Sentence

forsooth, the rumor is true: this lovely lass and I are getting married!

you're getting married without a penny to your name—a pretty story forsooth!

Word History

Etymology

Middle English for soth, from Old English forsōth, from for + sōth sooth

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

forsooth

adverb

for·​sooth fər-ˈsüth 

: in truth : indeed