sooth

English

Etymology

From Middle English sooth, from Old English sōþ (truth; true, actual, real), from Proto-Germanic *sanþaz (truth; true), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁sónts, *h₁s-ont- (being, existence, real, true), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- (to be). Akin to Old Saxon sōþ (true), Old High German sand (true), Old Norse sannr (true), Gothic 𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌾𐌰 (sunja, truth), Old English sēon (to be), Old English synn (sin, guilt"; literally, "being the one guilty). More at sin.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /suːθ/

Noun

sooth (uncountable)

  1. (archaic) Truth.
    • William Shakespeare (Merchant of Venice, Act I, Scene 1)
      In sooth, I know not why I am so sad.
    • Longfellow
      In good sooth, / Its mystery is love, its meaning youth.
  2. (obsolete) augury; prognostication
    • Spenser
      The sooth of birds, by beating of their wings.
  3. (obsolete) blandishment; cajolery
  4. (obsolete) reality; fact

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

sooth (comparative soother, superlative soothest)

  1. (archaic) True.
    • Spenser
      That shall I sooth (said he) to you declare.
  2. (obsolete) Pleasing; delightful; sweet.
    • Milton
      the soothest shepherd that ever piped on plains
    • Keats
      with jellies soother than the creamy curd

Adverb

sooth (not comparable)

  1. (archaic) In truth; indeed.

Anagrams


Scots

Etymology

From Old English sūþ, from Proto-Germanic *sunþrą.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /suθ/

Adjective

sooth (not comparable)

  1. south

Adverb

sooth (not comparable)

  1. south

Noun

sooth (uncountable)

  1. south
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