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