zoonters, int.

zoonters
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoonters_int%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# zoontersinterjection

## Earlier version

- zoonters, int. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the interjection zoonters mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the interjection zoonters. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How is the interjection zoonters pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzuːntəz/
ZOON-tuhz

#### U.S. English

/ˈzun(t)ərz/
ZOON-tuhrz

### Where does the interjection zoonters come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1700s

The earliest known use of the interjection zoonters is in the mid 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoonters is from before 1763, in the writing of William Shenstone, writer.

zoonters is probably a variant or alteration of another lexical item.

Etymons: zounds int.

### Nearby entries

1. zoonitic, adj. 1860–91
2. zoonomic, adj. 1836–
3. zoonomical, adj. 1800–
4. zoonomist, n. 1800–99
5. zoonomy, n. 1800–
6. zoonosis, n. 1873–
7. zoonosologist, n. 1860–
8. zoonosology, n. 1845–
9. zoonotic, adj. 1877–
10. zoon politikon, n. 1895–
11. zoonters, int.a1763–
12. zoo-organic, adj. 1821–90
13. zoopathologist, n. 1898–
14. zoopathology, n. 1841–
15. zoophagan, n. & adj. 1835–
16. zoophagic, adj. 1903–
17. zoophagous, adj. 1788–
18. zoophagy, n. 1849–
19. zoophile, n. 1885–
20. zoophilia, n. 1894–
21. zoophilic, adj. 1884–

## Etymology

### Summary

Of uncertain origin. Probably a variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymon: zounds int.
Origin uncertain. Probably an alteration of zounds int., perhaps after Zookers int., Zoodikers int. (compare ‑er suffix5).

## Meaning & use

rare (now archaic).

1. a1763–
   Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. zounds int., Zooks int., Zookers int.
   1. a1763

      > Zoonters they're gone.

      W. Shenstone, Works in Verse & Prose (1764) vol. I. 239
   2. 2011

      > Oh good gracious me! Zoonters, but I thought you were a pickpocket.

      D. Lake, Death at Wedding Feast xv. 105
   archaic
   1. God's wounds c1460–
   2. kocks nownes a1556–89
      = God's wounds int. at god, n. & int.phrases P.3b.i.
   3. nouns a1556–1822
      Expressing surprise, astonishment, etc. Also (occasionally) as n.: wounds. Cf. wounds, int.
   4. God's bores 1578–1622
   5. swounds?1589–1884
      = God's wounds int. at god, n. & int.phrases P.3b.i, used in oaths and asseverations.
   6. zounds a1593–
      = God's wounds int. at god, n. & int.phrases P.3b.i, used in oaths and asseverations.
   7. oons 1593–
      An exclamation of anger, surprise, etc.; = zounds, int.
   8. 'Snowns 1594
      (See nouns, int. and od, n.¹ & int.)
   9. wounds 1600–
      = God's wounds; used as an oath or asseveration.
   10. od's nouns a1616–1816
   11. Gad's nouns 1677–1765
   12. odsoons 1694–1889
   13. od zounds 1696–
   14. zines?1701–10
       Used to assert something emphatically, or to express surprise, indignation, etc. Cf. zounds, int.
   15. swolks 1738–
       Probably: = swounds, int.
   16. zoonters a1763–
       Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. zounds, int., Zooks, int., Zookers, int.
   17. od's wounds 1773–1889
   18. Gadswoons 1826
   19. woundikins 1836–
       A variant (with diminutive ending) of wounds, int.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzuːntəz/
ZOON-tuhz

### U.S. English

/ˈzun(t)ərz/
ZOON-tuhrz

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

zoonters, int. was revised in June 2017.

zoonters, int. was last modified in December 2023.