by God, †before (also for, fore) God; also by God above, etc. Cf. by, prep. 2.

The French interjectional deus!, ohi! deus, God!, ah God! occasionally retained in translation, or ascribed to foreigners, fiends, etc., but not…

‘So help’, in the oath ‘So help me God’: see so, adv. conj.19. Now only colloquial, often in jocularly altered forms.

by Gog, Gog of heaven, Gog give, etc.

by Gog, Gog of heaven, Gog give, etc.

by cock: used to express strong feeling or to affirm the truth of a statement.

As an oath: ‘God's death’.

transitive. (God) refuse me: used as an oath. Obsolete.

An utterance of ‘God damn me’; an imprecation, an oath. Obsolete.

Expressing asseveration or emphasis.

Expressive of strength of feeling, conviction, etc.; = egad, int.

= egad, int.; see god, n. int.phrases 1e(a), and cf. ecod, int.

Used as a softened oath.

As an exclamation or mild oath: = egad, int. Cf. adad, int. agad, int.

As a mild oath: = egad, int.

Used as an oath or exclamation expressing surprise, affirmation, etc. Cf. Godso, int.

Expressing asseveration or emphasis.

Only in the exclamation (by) goles = (by) God (see god, n. int.phrases 3a).

= egad, int.

by (or my) gum = by (or my) God. Also gummie, gummy.

Used as a colloquial expression of surprise, indignation, etc. See also quots. 1919 1925.