Zounds.... wait what?

[Polaris]

So tomorrow I have an exam of Shakespeare and the english Renaissance, pretty things :) But there is a problem, I think that in the play "Othello" characters, the one I remember most is Iago keep saying "Zounds, peace, peace".

My teacher told us he had no idea what "zounds" meant and actually neither do I! :( Is it perhaps a kind of interjection?

:( Thanks

[fire_of_avalon]

Zounds means something like "the wound of god". My high school english teacher said that anyways.

[Roto13]

zounds - Definitions from Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zounds)

[rubah]

"holy crap"

foa, he did mean 'God's wounds!'? that used to be a popular style of cussing. god's nose! god's thumb! etc. Or at least taht's what Catherine, Called Birdy said anyways.

[blackmage_nuke]

I thought it was somewhat like "darn it" but i only assume this because Red XIII says it in FFVII after Yuffie steals your materia

[Tallulah]

Back in Shakesperean times, the word 'zounds', does indeed mean 'God's wounds'. It was considered a mild curse word; the modern equivalent would be something along the lines of 'damn'.

A similar, worse curse word, also around in the same era, 's'blood', means 'God's blood', and the modern equivalent of that would be the F-word.

Just a random bit of useless information for you there. :tongue:

[Dolentrean]

Zounds means "By His Wounds"

I love the word, I mean, Zounds is just a great word to say, particularly while playing Halo.

[Big D]

Like others have said, 'zounds' is short for 'by God's wounds', and it's a rather potent Shakespearean epithet.

Handy tip for this word: It does not rhyme with 'hounds'.

[Heath]

Zounds means something like "the wound of god". My high school english teacher said that anyways.

Always the definition I've been given as well. Well, "God's wounds" but same difference.

[Araciel]

I learned about the god's wounds thing from the simpsons.

but don't listen to them, it's actually like sounds but with a buzzzing noise.

[Xaven]

Like others have said, 'zounds' is short for 'by God's wounds', and it's a rather potent Shakespearean epithet.

Handy tip for this word: It does not rhyme with 'hounds'.
My 9th grade English teacher said it was pronounced "zownds," as in "hounds". D:

Sensory Input Conflict. Prepare to self-destruct. D:

We had a whole lesson on medieval insults. I forgot mine. Something to do with a moldwarp.

[Big D]

Like others have said, 'zounds' is short for 'by God's wounds', and it's a rather potent Shakespearean epithet.

Handy tip for this word: It does not rhyme with 'hounds'.
My 9th grade English teacher said it was pronounced "zownds," as in "hounds". D:A fairly common mistake, that. Unless your English teacher also pronounces 'wound' (injury) the same as 'hound'. The more comprehensive English dictionaries include this word, along with the correct pronunciation; same goes for many annotated editions of Shakespeare's plays.