sooth

English

Etymology

Middle English sooth, from Old English sōþ (“truth", also "true, actual, real”), from Proto-Germanic *sanþaz (“truth; true”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁sónts, *es-ont- (“being, existence, real, true”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es-, *es- (“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: /suːθ/

Noun

sooth (uncountable)

(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.
(obsolete) augury; prognostication
- Spenser
  The sooth of birds, by beating of their wings.
(obsolete) blandishment; cajolery
(Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)