true
In accordance with fact or reality; genuine; loyal or faithful.
Etymology
From Old English trēowe (faithful, trustworthy), from Proto-Germanic *triwwiz, from PIE *deru- (tree, wood; to be firm, solid, steadfast). The semantic path runs from 'firm as a tree' to 'steadfast' to 'faithful' to 'truthful.' The same root gave English tree, trust, and truce — all connected to the idea of firmness and reliability. Grimm's Law accounts for PIE *d → Germanic *t.
The Journey: *deru- → true
*deru-
*triwwiz
trēowe
true
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *deru-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| German | treu — faithful, loyal |
| Gothic | triggws — true, faithful |
| Sanskrit | dāru — wood |
| Old Norse | tryggr — true, faithful |
Did You Know?
True, tree, trust, and truce all share the same PIE root *deru-. To be 'true' was originally to be 'solid as a tree' — rooted, unwavering, and firm. The word truce literally meant 'a pledge of good faith.'
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *deru-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.