forsooth

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
forsooth
    adv 1: an archaic word originally meaning `in truth' but now
           usually used to express disbelief
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Forsooth \For*sooth"\, n.
   A person who used forsooth much; a very ceremonious and
   deferential person. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         You sip so like a forsooth of the city.  --B. Jonson.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Forsooth \For*sooth"\, adv. [AS. fors[=o][eth]; for, prep. +
   s[=o][eth] sooth, truth. See {For}, prep., and {Sooth}.]
   In truth; in fact; certainly; very well; -- formerly used as
   an expression of deference or respect, especially to woman;
   now used ironically or contemptuously.
   [1913 Webster]

         A fit man, forsooth, to govern a realm!  --Hayward.
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         Our old English word forsooth has been changed for the
         French madam.                            --Guardian.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Forsooth \For*sooth"\, v. t.
   To address respectfully with the term forsooth. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]

         The captain of the "Charles" had forsoothed her, though
         he knew her well enough and she him.     --Pepys.
   [1913 Webster]
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
42 Moby Thesaurus words for "forsooth":
      absolutely, actually, and no mistake, assuredly, at all events,
      at any rate, by all means, certainly, clearly, decidedly,
      decisively, definitely, distinctly, factually, for a certainty,
      for a fact, for certain, for sure, historically, in fact,
      in reality, in truth, in very sooth, indeed, indeedy,
      most assuredly, most certainly, nothing else but, of a truth,
      of course, positively, really, really-truly, surely,
      to a certainty, truly, undoubtedly, unequivocally, unmistakably,
      verily, veritably, with truth
antiflux / dictionary / forsooth
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