True (?), a. [Compar. Truer (?); superl. Truest.] [OE. trewe, AS.
treówe faithful, true, from treów fidelity, faith, troth; akin to
OFries. triuwe, adj., treuwa, n., OS. triuwi, adj., trewa, n., D.
trouw, adj. & n., G. treu, adj., treue, n., OHG. gitriuwi, adj.,
triuwa, n., Icel. tryggr, adj., Dan. tro, adj. & n., Sw. trogen, adj.,
tro, n., Goth. triggws, adj., triggwa, n., trauan to trust, OPruss
druwis faith. Cf. Trow, Trust, Truth.]
1. Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things;
correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like; as, a true
relation or narration; a true history; a declaration is true when it
states the facts.
2. Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact;
accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the original.
Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time.
Sir W. Scott.
3. Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the
like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious;
as, a true friend; a wife true to her husband; an officer true to his
charge.
Thy so true, So faithful, love unequaled.
Milton.
Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie.
Herbert.
4. Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure;
real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian.
The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John i. 9.
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.
Pope.
True is sometimes used elliptically for It is true.
Out of true, varying from correct mechanical form, alignment,
adjustment, etc.; — said of a wall that is not perpendicular, of a
wheel whose circumference is not in the same plane, and the like.
[Colloq.] — A true bill (Law), a bill of indictment which is returned
by the grand jury so indorsed, signifying that the charges to be true.
— True time. See under Time.
True, adv. In accordance with truth; truly. Shak.
True"-blue` (?), a. Of inflexible honesty and fidelity; — a term
derived from the true, or Coventry, blue, formerly celebrated for its
unchanging color. See True blue, under Blue.
True"-blue`, n. A person of inflexible integrity or fidelity.
True"-born` (?), a. Of genuine birth; having a right by birth to any
title; as, a true-born Englishman.
True"-bred` (?), a. 1. Of a genuine or right breed; as, a true-bred
beast. Shak.