Obs. Also sooth saw. Forms: 1 soðsaʓu, -saʓe, 2 soð-, 3 soþ-, sothsaȝe, 4 soþsagh, 5 sothesaugh; 3–4 soþ-, 4 soth-, 4–5 sothesawe, 6 sothsaw; 4 sooþ-, 5 soothsawe, 6 -saw. [OE. sóðsaʓu: see SOOTH a. and SAW sb.2 In later use sometimes not a comb., but a simple collocation of adj. and sb.]
1. The or an act of speaking the truth; (one’s) truthfulness, truth.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt., Int. 7/2. Soðspell vel soðsaʓa [= historia].
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., x. (1883), 74. On manna ʓehwylces mode and muðe soðsaʓu stande.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Treat., Sel. Wks. III. 6. Aȝein hem þat in blindenes of malice pursuen me for my sooþsawe.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6125. Though that thou shuldist for thi sothe-sawe Ben al to-beten and to-drawe.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlv. 175 (Harl. MS.). My felowe for his sothe sawe, hathe lost his lyf.
c. 1483. Caxton, Epil. Chaucer’s H. Fame, d v. This noble man Gefferey Chaucer fynysshyd at the sayd conclusion of the metyng of lesyng and sothsawe.
2. A true saying, statement or account; a truth.
α. a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1038. Hit was iseid in olde laȝe, An ȝet ilast þilke soþsaȝe [etc.].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8911. For þe loue o þis soth-sagh.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. XI. 16. Al þe soþ sawes þat Salamon seide euere.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 2089. A lesynge & a sad soth-sawe.
c. 1430. Wycliffite Bible, Pref. Ep. ix. For it is an old sothsawe, to the auarouse man as wel lackith the good that he hath, as that he hath not.
β. c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 14. Ut of latin ðis song is draȝen on engleis speche, on soðe saȝen.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 2298. Sey me þe soþe sawe: How mykel louestou me wyþ wylle?
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 676. Thou shalt here … moo tydynges, Bothe sothe sawes and leysinges.
1519. Interl. Four Elem. (Percy Soc.), 17. I … gyve the absolucion For thy soth saws; stande up, Jackdaw!
c. 1530. Hickscorner (1905), 129. I came … to preach and teach of God’s sooth saws Ayenst vice.
