Where does “retrue” come from?
retrue (English) comes from English re, from English reinsurance, from English re-, from Middle English re-, from Old French re-, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō, from Latin prō- — passed , crossed.
retrue (English): To true again; restraighten
Definitions
- To true again; restraighten
Ancestry of “retrue”, step by step
retrue traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English re
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | re | About, regarding, with reference to; especially... |
| 2 | English | reinsurance | Insurance purchased by insurance companies that... |
| 3 | English | re- | again, anew; a completive or intensification of... |
| 4 | Middle English | re- | — |
| 5 | Old French | re- | re- again; once more |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English True
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | True | — |
| 2 | Middle English | treowe | Alternative form of trewe |
| 3 | Old English | trēowe | trusty, faithful |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | triwwiz | true; faithful |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | drew- | hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dóru | tree |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | deru- | firm, solid; wood; be firm, hard, solid |