true

I. adjective (truer; truest) Etymology: Middle English trewe, from Old English trēowe faithful; akin to Old High German gitriuwi faithful, Old Irish derb sure, and probably to Sanskrit dāruṇa hard, dāru wood — more at tree Date: before 12th century 1. a. steadfast, loyal b. honest, just c. archaic truthful 2. a. (1) being in accordance with the actual state of affairs <

true description

> (2) conformable to an essential reality (3) fully realized or fulfilled <

dreams come true

> b. ideal, essential c. being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed <

the true dimension of the problem

> d. consistent <

true to character

> 3. a. properly so called <

true love

> <

the true faith

> <

the true stomach of ruminant mammals

> b. (1) possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as <

a whale is a true but not a typical mammal

> (2) typical <

the true cats

> 4. legitimate, rightful <

our true and lawful king

> 5. a. that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately b. conformable to a standard or pattern ; accurate 6. determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles <

true north

> 7. logically necessary 8. narrow, strict <

in the truest sense

> 9. corrected for error • trueness noun II. adverb Date: 14th century 1. in accordance with fact or reality 2. a. without deviation <

the bullet flew straight and true

> b. without variation from type <

breed true

> III. noun Date: circa 1536 1. truth, reality — usually used with the 2. the quality or state of being accurate (as in alignment or adjustment) — used in the phrases in true and out of true IV. transitive verb (trued; trueing; also truing) Date: 1841 to make level, square, balanced, or concentric ; bring or restore to a desired mechanical accuracy or form <

true up a board

> <

true up an engine cylinder

>