Forsooth
/fɔːrˈsuːθ/noun
An archaic adverb meaning truly, indeed, or in truth, often used with irony today.
Did you know?Forsooth comes from the Old English phrase for sōþ, literally “for truth,” showing how English once turned a truth-word into a polished rhetorical flourish.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
for sōþ
“for truth; in truth”
Middle English
ME
forsooth
“truly; indeed; in truth”
16th-17th Century
English
forsooth
“a formal or emphatic marker, often used ironically or in elevated speech”
Modern English
English
forsooth
“archaic or humorous adverb meaning truly, indeed”