Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous: synonym: real.
  • adjective Not counterfeit; real or genuine: synonym: authentic.
  • adjective Conforming to the characteristics or criteria of a group or type; typical.
  • adjective Properly called.
  • adjective Reliable; accurate.
  • adjective Faithful, as to a friend, vow, or cause; loyal. synonym: faithful.
  • adjective Archaic Truthful, honest, or trustworthy.
  • adjective Sincerely felt or expressed; unfeigned.
  • adjective Rightful; legitimate.
  • adjective Exactly conforming to a rule, standard, or pattern.
  • adjective Accurately shaped, fitted, or placed.
  • adjective Determined with reference to the earth's axis, not the magnetic poles.
  • adjective Quick and exact in sensing and responding.
  • adjective Computers Indicating one of two possible values taken by a variable in Boolean logic or a binary device.
  • adverb In accord with reality, fact, or truthfulness.
  • adverb Unswervingly; exactly.
  • adverb So as to conform to a type, standard, or pattern.
  • transitive verb To position (something) so as to make it balanced, level, or square.
  • noun Truth or reality. Used with the.
  • noun Proper alignment or adjustment.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Conformable to fact; being in accordance with the actual state of things; not false, fictitious, or erroneous: as, a true story; a true statement.
  • What proposition is there respecting human nature which is absolutely and universally true?
  • Conformable to reason or to established rules or custom; exact; just; accurate; correct.
  • Conformable to law and justice; legitimate; rightful: as, the true heir.
  • Conformable to nature; natural; correct.
  • In biology:
  • Conforming or conformable to a type, norm, or standard of structure; typical; as, an amœba is a true animal; a canary is a true bird; the lion is a true cat; a frog or toad is not a true reptile.
  • Genuine; truebred; not hybrid or mongrel: as, a true merino sheep. Also used adverbially: as, to breed true.
  • Genuine; pure; real; not counterfeit, adulterated, false, or pretended.
  • In anatomy, complete; perfected: as, true ribs (that is, those which articulate with the breastbone, as distinguished from false or floating ribs); the true pelvis (that part of the pelvis below the superior strait or iliopectineal line); a true corpus luteum (the complete corpus luteum of pregnancy, as distinguished from the same body unaffected by the result of conception).
  • Free from falsehood; habitually speaking the truth; veracious; truthful.
  • Firm or steady in adhering to promises, to friends, to one's principles, etc.; not fickle, false, or perfidious; faithful; constant; loyal.
  • Honest.
  • Sure; unerring; unfailing.
  • Synonyms Veritable, actual. See reality.
  • 8 and Sincere, honorable.
  • noun Truth; fidelity.
  • noun Agreement; covenant; pledge.
  • noun A temporary cessation of war, according to agreement; respite from war; truce. See truce.
  • noun in eccles. law, an expression formerly used at the end of each several article in the libel as descriptive of the charges therein contained.
  • To verify.
  • To make true in position, form, adjustment, or the like: give a right form to; adjust nicely; put a keen, fine, or smooth edge on; make exactly straight, square, plumb, level, or the like: a workmen's term.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In accordance with truth; truly.
  • adjective Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things; correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like.
  • adjective Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate.
  • adjective Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious.
  • adjective Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English trewe, from Old English trēowe, firm, trustworthy; see deru- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English trewe, from Old English trīewe, (Mercian) trēowe ("trusty, faithful"), from Proto-Germanic *triwwiz (compare Dutch getrouw and trouw, German treu, Swedish trygg ("safe, secure’"), from pre-Germanic *dreu̯h₂i̯os, from Proto-Indo-European *druh₂, *dreu̯h₂ ‘steady, firm’ (compare Irish dearbh ("sure"), Old Prussian druwis ("faith"), Ancient Greek droós ("firm")), extension of *dóru ‘tree’. More at tree. For semantic development, compare Latin robustus ("tough") from robur ("red oak").

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Examples

Comments

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  • I like this as a verb, meaning to square up (in the literal sense).

    July 12, 2007

  • a town in West Virginia, USA

    February 27, 2008