Word Direct Answers

What does "true" mean?

True: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 2.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.
  2. 3.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.
  3. 4.True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. Pope. Note: 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.
  4. 5.In accordance with truth; truly. Shak.

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