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The origin is "By God's wounds" meaning Christ's stigmata (wounds from being crucified), shortened to "His wounds" and shortened still to 's wounds, shortened again to zounds. It's an exclamation; today you might say "Gadzooks" or "Jesus Christ!" or "Holy smokes." Or if you were saying it more straightforwardly, it might mean also "I swear" as in "believe me" as in "I swear on this bible" or "I swear on my mothers grave" or "I swear on God's wounds" or something similarly sacred. Now don't ask me where "Gadzooks" comes from. (Actually, it's from "God's hooks", the nails which fastened Jesus to the cross)
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt's short for "God's wounds", a reference to Jesus's wounds after being crucified. Swearing by bits of Jesus' body, and using the word "God" to refer to Jesus were both common in the Elizabethan era. You could even swear by the whole of God's body, the cutesy form of which was "God's bodikins" or 'ods bodkins for short.
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What does 'sblood mean in Shakespeare's plays?
It's a swear word. It is short for "God's blood". Elizabethans were always swearing by bits of God. "Zounds" is "God's Wounds"; " 'Od's bodikins" is "God's little body".
What are three examples of Elizabethan vocabulary from Shakespeare's work?
Shakespeare is the most famous author to write during the Elizabethan era. Some of his most famous work are Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. He is also famous for a his many sonnets.
Did William Shakespeare have it?
What do you mean if Shakespeare have it? If you mean does Shakespeare have what it takes, then yes. He should any way.
Why is Shakespeare mean?
Shakespeare cannot be mean - he has been dead for centuries.
What year did Shakespeare start?
Shakespeare was born in 1564, if that's what you mean. That was the year he started being Shakespeare.
What does 'sblood mean in Shakespeare's plays?
It's a swear word. It is short for "God's blood". Elizabethans were always swearing by bits of God. "Zounds" is "God's Wounds"; " 'Od's bodikins" is "God's little body".
When was Zounds - album - created?
Zounds - album - was created on 2009-08-15.
What are three examples of Elizabethan vocabulary from Shakespeare's work?
Shakespeare is the most famous author to write during the Elizabethan era. Some of his most famous work are Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. He is also famous for a his many sonnets.
What does the medieval word zounds mean?
A short word for "God's Wounds" referring to the nails driven through Jesus.
What word has the letter Z and is in the play Romeo and Juliet?
'Zounds would be the only word in the play to begin with the letter Z (lines: " 'Zounds, consort!"; "'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!")
Expressions that start with a z?
Zounds!
What is an expletive starting with z?
Zounds!
What is an Exclamation that starts with z?
Zounds!
What is a word that you shout that starts with z?
Zounds!
What are things you shout starting with the letter Z?
Zounds!
Did William Shakespeare have it?
What do you mean if Shakespeare have it? If you mean does Shakespeare have what it takes, then yes. He should any way.
Why is Shakespeare mean?
Shakespeare cannot be mean - he has been dead for centuries.
