zoontersinterjection
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
U.S. English
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
- zoonitic, adj.1860–91
- zoonomic, adj.1836–
- zoonomical, adj.1800–
- zoonomist, n.1800–99
- zoonomy, n.1800–
- zoonosis, n.1873–
- zoonosologist, n.1860–
- zoonosology, n.1845–
- zoonotic, adj.1877–
- zoon politikon, n.1895–
- zoonters, int.a1763–
- zoo-organic, adj.1821–90
- zoopathologist, n.1898–
- zoopathology, n.1841–
- zoophagan, n. & adj.1835–
- zoophagic, adj.1903–
- zoophagous, adj.1788–
- zoophagy, n.1849–
- zoophile, n.1885–
- zoophilia, n.1894–
- zoophilic, adj.1884–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- a1763–Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. zounds int., Zooks int., Zookers int.
- a1763
Zoonters they're gone.
W. Shenstone, Works in Verse & Prose (1764) vol. I. 239 - 2011
Oh good gracious me! Zoonters, but I thought you were a pickpocket.
D. Lake, Death at Wedding Feast xv. 105
- God's woundsc1460–
- kocks nownesa1556–89= God's wounds int. at god, n. & int.phrases P.3b.i.
- nounsa1556–1822Expressing surprise, astonishment, etc. Also (occasionally) as n.: wounds. Cf. wounds, int.
- God's bores1578–1622
- swounds?1589–1884= God's wounds int. at god, n. & int.phrases P.3b.i, used in oaths and asseverations.
- zoundsa1593–= God's wounds int. at god, n. & int.phrases P.3b.i, used in oaths and asseverations.
- oons1593–An exclamation of anger, surprise, etc.; = zounds, int.
- 'Snowns1594(See nouns, int. and od, n.¹ & int.)
- wounds1600–= God's wounds; used as an oath or asseveration.
- od's nounsa1616–1816
- Gad's nouns1677–1765
- odsoons1694–1889
- od zounds1696–
- zines?1701–10Used to assert something emphatically, or to express surprise, indignation, etc. Cf. zounds, int.
- swolks1738–Probably: = swounds, int.
- zoontersa1763–Used as an oath or exclamation expressing asseveration, surprise, etc. Cf. zounds, int., Zooks, int., Zookers, int.
- od's wounds1773–1889
- Gadswoons1826
- woundikins1836–A variant (with diminutive ending) of wounds, int.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
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
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
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