faithful English · revision 7804

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfeɪθ.fl̩/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English feithful, formed [[af|en|faith|-ful]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Full of faith; sincerely religious, especially Christian: before 1300 in the OED, the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Firm in fidelity to a lord, friend or spouse is also from before 1300 (the mid-14th century in Etymonline),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and conscientious in duty from about 1350.^(OED 1989) True to one's word is from about 1400.^(OED 1989) Of a tale or report, accurate, reliable, it is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) as is the noun, a true believer;^(Etymonline) Church Latin used fideles in the same sense.^(Etymonline) A native word for it was truefast, Old English trēowfæst.^(Etymonline) ''Old Faithful'', the American geyser, was named in 1870 by Henry Dana Washburn for the regularity of its eruptions.^(Etymonline) In East Anglia it was used of telling an unpleasant truth, after Proverbs 27:6.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – full of faith; loyal.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1350 – conscientious.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – accurate; a believer (noun).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1870 – Old Faithful.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[loyal|alt=Loyal]] and constant to a person, cause or idea.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Having or full of [[faith]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Sexually loyal to a partner.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Reliable or trustworthy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Accurate in detail: ''a faithful translation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(the faithful)'' The believers of a religion, or loyal supporters of a cause.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[faithfully]]

+ * [[faithfulness]]

+ * [[overfaithful]]

+ * [[unfaithful]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[faith]]

+ * [[faithless]]

+ * [[fidelity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}