different between zounds vs wow

English

Etymology

Abbreviation of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /zu?ndz/, /za?ndz/

Interjection

zounds

1. (chiefly dated) Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
   • 1597, Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet"

     'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!

   • 1870, R.M. Ballantyne, "The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands"

     Bounds, mounds, lounds, founds, kounds, downds, rounds, pounds, zounds! — hounds — ha! hounds — I have it.

   • 1900, J.C. Hutcheson, "Bob Strong's Holidays"

     "Zounds!" he exclaimed. "What the dickens is that?"

Alternative forms

• 'zounds

Synonyms

• 'swounds
• 'dswounds
• zooterkins

English

Etymology 1

Attested since the 16th century; borrowed from Scots wow.

Pronunciation

• enPR: wou, IPA^(key): /wa??/
• Rhymes: -a?

Interjection

wow

1. An indication of excitement, surprise, astonishment, or pleasure.
   • 1513, Gavin Douglas, Virgil Æneid (translation) vi. Prol. 19:

     Out on thir wanderand spiritis, wow! thow cryis.

2. An expression of amazement, awe, or admiration.

3. Used sarcastically to express disapproval of something.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:wow

Derived terms

• wowzer, wowser
• wowsers
• wowzah
• wowee

Translations

Verb

wow (third-person singular simple present wows, present participle wowing, simple past and past participle wowed)

1. (transitive, informal) To amaze or awe.

Translations

Noun

wow (plural wows)

1. (informal) Anything exceptionally surprising, unbelievable, outstanding, etc.
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 27:

     ‘Jesus suffering fuck,’ said Adrian. ‘It's not half a thought.’¶ ‘Face it, it's a wow.’

Derived terms

• wowless

Etymology 2

Imitative.

Noun

wow (plural wows)

1. (audio) A relatively slow form of flutter (pitch variation) which can affect both gramophone records and tape recorders.

Anagrams

• oww

Atikamekw

Noun

wow

1. egg

Middle English

Noun

wow

1. Alternative form of wowe

Polish

Etymology

From English wow.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /waw/

Interjection

wow

1. (informal) wow

Further reading

• wow in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• wow in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from English wow.

Interjection

wow

1. wow (an indication of excitement or surprise)