Dictionary Information: Definition True - Description Meaning Thesaurus

True (True) (?), a.
[Compar. Truer (?); superl. Truest.]
[OE. trewe, AS. tre\'a2we faithful, true, from tre\'a2w fidelity, faith, troth; akin to OFries. triuwe, adj., treuwa, n., OS. triuwi, adj., trewa, n., D.trouw, adj. & n., G. treu, adj., treue, n., OHG. gitriuwi, adj., triuwa, n., Icel. tryggr, adj., Dan. tro, adj. & n., Sw. trogen, adj., tro, n., Goth. triggws, adj., triggwa, n., trauan to trust, OPruss druwis faith. Cf. Trow, Trust, Truth.]

1. Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things; correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like; as, a true relation or narration; a true history; a declaration is true when it states the facts.
2. Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the original. "Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time." Sir W. Scott.
3. Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious; as, a true friend; a wife true to her husband; an officer true to his charge. "Thy so true, So faithful, love unequaled." Milton. "Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie." Herbert.
4. Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian. "The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John i. 9. "True ease in writing comes from art, not chance." Pope.
^ True is sometimes used elliptically for It is true.

-- Out of true, varying from correct mechanical form, alignment, adjustment, etc.; -- said of a wall that is not perpendicular, of a wheel whose circumference is not in the same plane, and the like. [Colloq.]
-- A true bill (Law), a bill of indictment which is returned by the grand jury so indorsed, signifying that the charges to be true.
-- True time. See under Time.

True (True), adv.

In accordance with truth; truly. Shak.