---
title: forsooth — English dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «forsooth» in the English dictionary: Forsooth means in truth or indeed, said to add emphasis, often in a teasing or scornful way. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# forsooth

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Forsooth, you, It · **What happens:** mean, say, add, use, grow, be · **To what, where:** truth, emphasis, village, great sin, Mother, flax · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«forsooth» in the English dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [forsooth in the English dictionary](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/forsooth/).

## Everyday, meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: old use — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Forsooth means in truth or indeed, said to add emphasis, often in a teasing or scornful way.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:m1:1
# text = Forsooth means in truth or indeed, said to add emphasis, often in a teasing or scornful way.
1	Forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	xcomp	_	_
11	emphasis	emphasis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	teasing	teasing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	ccomp	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
18	scornful	scornful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Forsooth |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Forsooth *not said here* |  |  | truth |  | a teasing or scornful way *ccomp* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Forsooth *not said here* | emphasis |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent emphasis=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Early Modern English, meaning 1 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
in truth or indeed; used to add emphasis, often mockingly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:m2:1
# text = in truth or indeed; used to add emphasis, often mockingly.
1	in	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	truth	truth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	indeed	indeed	ADV	RB	_	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	add	add	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	emphasis	emphasis	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	mockingly	mockingly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | truth *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  | emphasis |  |  |  | mockingly *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent emphasis=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Have you grown so bashful, forsooth?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:x1:1
# text = Have you grown so bashful, forsooth?
1	Have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	bashful	bashful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present · perfect | you |  |  |  |  | bashful *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As if there were no lads in our village, forsooth!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:x2:1
# text = As if there were no lads in our village, forsooth!
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
2	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	4	expl	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	lads	lad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
11	forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  | our village |  | as no lads | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is a great sin to dishonour Mother Friday, forsooth!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:x3:1
# text = It is a great sin to dishonour Mother Friday, forsooth!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	dishonour	dishonour	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	Mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a great sin |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dishonour** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  | friday |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Have you grown so bashful, forsooth?

<!-- .note -->
From Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:x4:1
# text = Have you grown so bashful, forsooth?
1	Have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grown	grow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	bashful	bashful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present · perfect | you |  |  |  |  | bashful *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As if there were no lads in our village, forsooth!

<!-- .note -->
From Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:x5:1
# text = As if there were no lads in our village, forsooth!
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
2	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	4	mark	_	_
3	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	4	expl	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	6	det	_	_
6	lads	lad	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
11	forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past |  |  |  | our village |  | as no lads | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's a great sin to dishonor Mother Friday--combing and spinning flax, forsooth!

<!-- .note -->
From Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:english:forsooth:x6:1
# text = It's a great sin to dishonor Mother Friday--combing and spinning flax, forsooth!
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sin	sin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	dishonor	dishonor	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	acl	_	_
8	Mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	Friday	Friday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	combing	comb	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	spinning	spin	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	conj	_	_
14	flax	flax	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	forsooth	forsooth	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | a great sin |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **dishonor** | to-infinitive |  | Mother |  |  | friday |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **comb** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_instr-10.4.2-1 «NP.agent V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **spin** | gerund |  | flax |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent flax=Theme |

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**Text:** the English dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader, each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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