Meanings
- obsoleteClassicsInvocation 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 - Britishdatedminced oathby God.
Away! By Jupiter, / This shall not be revoked!
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 1, scene 1, lines 178–1792 more examples
"By Jupiter!" employing his usual mild expletive, "look here, old fellow, had she a white dress on, and geranium-colored bows, and—"
1874 September 28, Fannie Hodgson Burnett, “Pretty Polly Pemberton”, in Peterson's Magazine, volume 66, number 3, page 180"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 & antonyms
Origin
- Latinpro
- Englishby Jupiter
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.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
by Jupiter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20Jupiter
“by Jupiter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20Jupiter. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “by Jupiter,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20Jupiter.
Source: by Jupiter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.