by Jupiter

intj — 2 senses

by Jupiter

intj

Etymology From Latin pro Iuppiter. Ellipsis of a full oath of the form "I swear by Jupiter that…". Originally a literal oath; later a minced oath.

1

Obsolete Invocation of the Roman god Jupiter.

I see how it is with you. You are mad, / Stark mad, by Jupiter!1820 [423 BC], “The Clouds”, in Thomas Mitchell, transl., The Comedies of Aristophanes, volume 1, translation of Νεφέλαι Nephelai by Aristophanes, page 91:

2

British, Dated by God.

Away! By Jupiter, / This shall not be revoked!c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 1, scene 1, lines 178–179:
"By Jupiter!" employing his usual mild expletive, "look here, old fellow, had she a white dress on, and geranium-colored bows, and—"1874 September 23, Fannie Hodgson Burnett, “Pretty Polly Pemberton”, in Peterson's Magazine, volume 66, number 3, page 180:

1 more example

"By Jupiter, Max, you are a good fellow if ever there was one!" exclaimed Mr Carlyle with gentlemanly emotion.1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:

Synonyms: wow, dammit
Related terms: by Jove

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.