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.

  • noun Truth; fidelity.
  • noun Agreement; covenant; pledge.
  • noun A temporary cessation of war, according to agreement; respite from war; truce. See truce.
  • 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.
  • 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 in eccles. law, an expression formerly used at the end of each several article in the libel as descriptive of the charges therein contained.

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

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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