Forthright's Forsoothery Zounds! Whosoever shall gaze hither may find a trove of long-lost words and betimes cry, "Heyday!" or "Gramercy!" No, seriously, though: This word list exemplifies "forsoothery" (sometimes also known as "gadzookery"): archaic terms, especially as used in modern literature. These 134 words were formerly used as everyday adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections and other little words, but which now are only found in books, movies and other works of fiction that use them archaically, facetiously or knowingly. If you read a certain style of questionable fantasy or historical literature (as I have been known to do from time to time), you will no doubt have encountered examples of forsoothery.

Word Definition abaft toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft afore before agone ago alack expression of sorrow or regret alee on or toward the lee alow below amain to a high degree; exceedingly; at full speed an if anent about; concerning anon at once; immediately aright right; correctly aroint begone athwart across; in opposition to; sideways; transversely aught anything at all; something avaunt away; hence aye yes beforetime formerly belike most likely; probably betimes in short time; speedily betwixt between certes in truth; certainly clepe to name; to call eft again; afterwards eftsoons soon after egad mild oath eke in addition; also; likewise endlong lengthwise enow enough ere before erelong before long; soon erewhile until now eyne eyes fain happy; inclined; pleased fie expression of disgust or disapproval forby past; near fore at an earlier time or period forsooth in truth; indeed forthwith immediately froward turned away; self-willed; unreasonable; perverse; adverse gadzooks mild oath gar mild oath gardyloo warning cry gramercy expression of gratitude or surprise hark to pay close attention; to listen heretofore until now heyday expression of elation or wonder hight named; called; to command or call hist expression used to attract attention hither to this place howbeit although ifsoever if ever ilke kind or nature inly inwardly; thoroughly iwis surely; certainly lackaday expression of regret or deprecation lief soon; gladly marry expression of surprised agreement maugre in spite of mayhap perhaps meet fitting; proper meseems it seems to me methinks I believe; I think nary not a one; not at all natheless nevertheless; notwithstanding needs of necessity; necessarily nigh nearly; almost nowise not at all od mild oath or before parcel partly pardie mild oath; certainly or truly parfay by my faith; verily peradventure perhaps; possibly; by adventure; by chance prithee expression of wish or request puissant powerful; mighty quotha expression of surprise or contempt rede to counsel or advise ruth pity; remorse; sorrow semovedly separately siege seat or throne sith since somedeal somewhat somewhither to some place; somewhere sooth truth; reality; in truth soothfast truthful; honest; faithful soothly in truth; truly speed prosperity; success strait strict; rigorous; constricted sweven vision seen in sleep; a dream swink to toil; to labour swith instantly; quickly swoopstake in an indiscriminate manner teen injury; grief thereinto into that or it thereon thereupon therewith thereupon; forthwith therewithal besides thither to that place thole to endure; to suffer thro through tother the other twain two twixt between usward toward us verily truly; certainly; confidently wanion ill luck; misfortune weed garment or outfit worn during mourning wellaway expression of sorrow or lamentation; alas whenas when whencesoever from whatsoever place or source whereagainst against which whereinsoever in whatsoever respect or place whereinto into which; into what whereof of what whereon on what whereout out of which wherethrough through which; through the agency of whereuntil to what wherewith with what whichsoever every one that whilom formerly; once; former whither to what place whithersoever to any place whatsoever whitherward toward what or which place whosoever every one who wist to know withal besides; therewith; nevertheless; with wood mad; insane; wild yare marked by quickness and agility; nimble; prepared; easily handled yede to go yoicks expression of surprise or excitement yon yonder; that over there; those over there yonside on the farther side of zounds mild oath



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