The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
True \True\ (tr[udd]), a. [Compar. Truer (tr[udd]"[~e]r);
superl. Truest.] [OE. trewe, AS. tre['o]we faithful, true,
from tre['o]w 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.]
[1913 Webster]
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.
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2. Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern;
exact; accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the
original.
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Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time. --Sir
W. Scott.
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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.
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Thy so true,
So faithful, love unequaled. --Milton.
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Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie. --Herbert.
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4. Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended;
genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of
country; a true Christian.
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The true light which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world. --John i. 9.
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True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.
--Pope.
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5. (Biol.) Genuine; real; not deviating from the essential
characters of a class; as, a lizard is a true reptile; a
whale is a true, but not a typical, mammal.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Note: True is sometimes used elliptically for It is true.
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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.
[1913 Webster]