Where does “true” come from?
True comes from Middle English trewe, from Old English trēowe, from Proto-Germanic trewwō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European drew-.
true (English): Conforming to the actual state of reality or...
Definitions
- Conforming to the actual state of reality or...
Ancestry of “true”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | trewe | Faithful, loyal, trustworthy; Concerned about... |
| 2 | Old English | trēowa | — |
| 3 | Old English | trēow | tree, wood, timber, beam, log, stake, stick,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | treu | tree; wood |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | trewą | tree |
| 6 | English | doru | Alternative form of dory |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | δόρυ | wood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,... |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | dóru | tree |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dóru | tree |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | drew- | hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree |