true English · revision 2317

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725, Beowulf (Old English trēowe)|origins=gem-pro *treuwaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /truː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|trewe]], [[inh|ang|trēowe|t=faithful, trustworthy]] (West Saxon [[m|ang|trīewe]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[gem-pro|*treuwaz|t=having good faith]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) Watkins derives this from a suffixed form of [[ine-pro|*deru-|t=to be firm, solid]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the root that also gave [[tree]], so that truth was something firm.^(AHD 2000) Its relatives include [[nl|getrouw]], [[de|treu]] and [[non|tryggr]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) and in English [[truce]], [[trust]] and [[trow]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The spelling ''true'' dates from the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Faithful, loyal, trustworthy: Old English ''trēowe'', about 725, in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Word Origins dictionary traces a gradual shift from “loyal” to “reliable, honest” and then to “truthful”.^(Cresswell 2021) The sense “in accord with fact” is recorded probably before 1200^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1200,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “real, genuine” from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) “Rightful by law”, as in ''true heir'', is from about 1400.^(Etymonline) “Exact, conforming to a standard”, as in ''true north'', dates from the 1540s^(Etymonline) or about 1550,^(Barnhart 1988) and was used in biology from the 1570s.^(Etymonline) Of things made, “accurately fitted” is late 15th century, and of aim, “straight to the target” by 1801.^(Etymonline) ''True-born'' and ''true-bred'' are from the 1590s, and ''come true'' from 1819.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''True-blue'' “staunchly loyal” first appears in Butler's ''Hudibras'' (1663), of the Scottish Presbyterians, whose colour was blue, long a symbol of constancy.^(Barnhart 1988) The idea behind ''many a true word is spoken in jest'' is found in Chaucer.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb meant “to prove true” in 1647, a sense now obsolete, and “to make true, adjust exactly” from 1841, at first a workmen's term.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Truism'' was first used by Swift in 1708.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''trēowe'', faithful (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – in accord with fact.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – real, genuine.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – rightful, as in ''true heir''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540s – exact, as in ''true north''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1663 – ''true-blue'' (''Hudibras'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1708 – ''truism'' (Swift).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1819 – ''come true''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – verb, to adjust exactly.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # In accord with fact or reality; not false.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Real, genuine.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Faithful and [[loyal]], as to a friend or cause.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Sincerely felt; unfeigned.^(AHD)

+ # Rightful, [[legitimate]]: ''the true heir''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Exactly conforming to a standard or pattern; accurately fitted or placed.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Determined by the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles: ''true north''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Truthfully; in accord with fact.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # Exactly, without swerving: ''aim true''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To adjust so as to make level, balanced or square.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Proper alignment: ''out of true''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trueness]]

+ * [[troth]]

+ * [[trueborn]]

+ * [[truelove]]

+ * [[truism]]

+ * [[truly]]

+ * [[true-blue]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[truth]]

+ * [[truce]]

+ * [[trust]]

+ * [[trow]]

+ * [[tree]]

+ * [[betroth]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}