arch. Forms: α. 2–5 trowþe, 3 (Orm.) trowwþe, 3–5 trouþe, 4–5 trowþ, trowthe, 4–6 trouthe, 4–6 (Sc. 4–) trowth, trouth, 5 trouþ, (trowith, -yth, 5–6 trougth, 6 trowgthe, trough). (Also 4 troutht, trout, troght, 4–6 trought(e, 6 trowht, trouht; 4 throwth, throut, 5 throuth, throughte.) β. 5 trothe, 6–7 troath, 6– troth, γ. 4 trawþe, trauþ(e, 5 trauthe, trawethe, 5–6 trawth(e. [Early ME. trowþe, trouþe, for OE. tréowþ, TRUTH, app. due to the shifting of éo to eó, with subsequent loss of the unaccented e. Cf. TROW v., and the development of ME. and mod. four from OE. féower, and of ME. fourti, and forty from OE. féowertiʓ. Trowth, troth were thus originally phonetic variants of OE. tréowþ, TRUTH, which hardly survived the 16th c. except as midland and northern dialect forms, and in special archaic locutions as ‘to plight one’s troth,’ ‘wedded troth,’ ‘by’ or ‘upon my troth,’ and in some combinations, as trothless, troth-plighted. Cf. also BETROTH. Trawthe, trauth are specially northern forms in which aw, au take the place of ow, ou. They are cited in the English Dialect Dictionary from Yorkshire.]
I. 1. Faithfulness, good faith, loyalty; honesty: = TRUTH sb. 1, 4. ? Obs.
α. c. 1175. Pater Noster, 42, in Lamb. Hom., 57. Mid al þis haue þu charite and soðfeste leaue and trowðe lef.
a. 1275. Prov. Ælfred, 506, in O. E. Misc., 132. On him þu maist þe tresten, ȝif is trowþe deȝh.
c. 1325. Spec. Gy Warw., 1033. To serue hym [Christ] and hys moder dere In trowþe, loue, and in charite.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 919. For-þy vs kenneþ our kinde to a-corde in trowþe.
1448. Hen. VI., Will, in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 379. His high trought and feruent zele.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 48. He knewe well the trouth of his felawe.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 164. Many thynges … declared the duke of Yorkes trought and innocencye in this case.
β. 1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 766. The Lord Hastings, whose troth towarde the king, no man doubted.
1620. J. Wilkinson, Courts Leet, 139. I shall sweare that I will bee true liege man and true faith and troth beare to our soveraigne lord the king.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. ii. 227. These thinking they’re obliged to Troth In Swearing, will not take an Oath.
1866. Neale, Sequences & Hymns, 130. Wedded troth remains as firm, and wedded love as pure.
1905. C. Whitley, in Disraeli’s Bentinck, Introd. 15. His … followers lacked either troth or cordiality.
b. By (rarely upon) my troth, as a form of asseveration. See also TRUTH 1 b.
α. c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 1001. If þat I sholde of any Grek han rouþe, It shulde be youre seluen, by my trouþe.
14[?]. Beryn, 116. Kit, how likith the? Be my trowith, wondir wele.
c. 1518. Skelton, Magnyf., 1669. Ye, by my trouthe, I shall waraunt you.
1564. in Child-Marriages, 64. Bie my faith and trouth, I will marry the.
β. 1555. in Foxe, A. & M. (1576), 1604/2. No, by my troth my Lord, we can do no good.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, II. iii. 103. By my troth my Lord, I cannot tell what to thinke of it.
1704. Swift, Batt. Bks., Misc. (1711), 236. By my Troth, said the Bee, the Comparison will amount to a very good Jest.
1820. Combe, Consol., II. (Chandos), 158. Nay, if you swear, Sir, by my troth, The Echo will repeat the oath.
a. 1839. Praed, Everyday Char., Quince, 45. Old Quince averred, upon his troth, They were the ugliest beasts in Devon.
γ. 13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 63. On hade boȝt hym a borȝ he sayde by his trawþe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1749. And now is tyme, by my trauthe, to take it on hond.
2. One’s faith as pledged or plighted in a solemn agreement or undertaking; one’s plighted word; the act of pledging one’s faith, a promise, covenant. Chiefly in phr. to plight one’s troth, to pledge one’s faith; to make a solemn promise or engagement; spec. to engage oneself to marry. = TRUTH 2.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 54. Þerefter of þen ilke weren trouðen tobrokene. Ibid., 310. Pepigimus cum morte fedus … we habbeð trouðe ipluht deaðe.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 8360–1. Trouþe þat men alle day breke,… fals trouþes, and fykyl,… are ȝyue mechyl.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 746. Ye shul youre trouthe holden.
c. 1430–40. Anturs of Arth., 465 (Thornton MS.). Here my trouthe I ȝow plyghte, I salle feghte withe ȝone knyghte.
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 246. ‘Ȝys,’ seyde the erle, ‘here myn honde!’ Hys trowthe to hym he strake.
1543–4. Act 35 Hen. VIII., c. 12. The … Frenche King nothing regarding his honor, othe, trouthe, promyse, and fidelitie.
1552. Huloet, Plyght fayeth and trougth in matrimonye, sponso.
1564. in Child-Marriages, 201. Therapon they plightid their trouthes together, and kissed together, and after dronk, and made mery.
β. c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., xxxvi. (Ireland MS.). I wille countur with the knyȝte,… Ther-to my trothe y the plyȝte.
1515. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., V. 36. Item, to David Cameroun for to pas to the day of troth, and erandis to the Lord Dakkir, to his expensis, xlij s.
1578. T. N., trans. Conq. W. India, 7. She demaunded him as hir husband by faith and troth of hand.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXI. vii. 397. They observed their troth and loyaltie with their allies.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), II. 149. Give me back my maiden-vow And give me back my troth.
1848. Lytton, Harold, VI. i. Gryffyth will never keep troth with the English.
1872. Yeats, Techn. Hist. Comm., 188. Betrothal rings, set with pearls and gems, were worn by maidens who had plighted their troth.
γ. c. 1375. Cursor M., 3240 (Fairf.). Of þi trauþ I make þe free.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1749. And now [is] tyre, by my trauthe, to take it on hond. Ibid., 10110. Vntrew of his trawth trust neuer after.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xxx. Ther-to grawuntus the knyȝte, And truly his trauthe pliȝte.
† 3. a. Faith, trust, confidence. (Cf. TRUTH 3 a.)
α. c. 1200. Ormin, 4015. He wass Drihhtin swiþe lef Þurrh trowwþess rihhtwisnesse. Ibid., 18857. Hæþenn trowwþe on hæþenn Godd.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2387 (Cott.). Abram þat o trouth was tru. Ibid. (13[?]), 18678 (Gött.). Þair mistrovth … Es strinthing of vr troght to-day.
a. 1400. Religions Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 10. Þe firste vertu es trouthe wharethurghe we trow anely in Godd…. Trouthe es begynnynge of all gude dedis.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. xviii. 2205. Makbeth aye In fantown fretis had gret fay, And trowth had in swylk fantasy.
γ. c. 1375. Cursor M., 2525 (Fairf.). Abraham þat was in trauþe strange.
† b. Belief; spec. a form of religious belief, a creed. (Cf. TRUTH 3 b.) Obs.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1347. Ȝiff þatt tu willt … Wiþþ fulle trowwþe lefenn Al þæt tatt wass bitacnedd tær. Ibid., 6953. Forrþi þatt teȝȝ þatt time Ȝet unnderrstodenn littleswhatt Off all þe rihhte trowwþe.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, i. 6. Fals cristen men, þat has þe trouth of ihū crist withouten luf & goed werkes. Ibid. (1340), Pr. Consc., 4228. Þai lyved in fals trowthe.
c. 1375. Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.), 414. þis is þo trouthe of holy kirk.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxiv. 154. If all þai be of diuerse lawes and diuerse trowyngs, þai hafe sum gude poyntes of oure trowth.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. xii. 159. In this only veryte, he [Plato] preuyd the right trouthe, ffor he preued his power, his wisedom, and his goodnes … that is the fader, the sone, and the holy goste.
II. † 4. Truth, in various senses: see TRUTH 5–13
α. c. 1300. Cursor M., 22789 (Edin.). Of þis trowþe hard es trowþe to find. Ibid. (13[?]), 18710 (Cott.). He badd … his disciplis … Oueral þis werld his trouth to teche.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 532. He wolde enquere Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 221. God … is cause of al þing … and liȝt of sooþnesse, and of trowþe [v.rr. trouthe, truthe], and welle of grace.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 151. Hou so that the cause wende, The trouthe is schameles ate ende.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 13. In two maner of þing, is [a man] seid iust; first sympli, or after trowþ…. In þe secound maner … onli in name.
14[?]. in Babees Bk. (1868), 332. Deame þee best in euery doute Tyl þe trouthe be tryed oute.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 211. He sholde bene sothefaste in worde and dedd, and lowe throuth abowe al thynge, and hate lesynge.
1436. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 204. Go furthe, libelle,… And pray my lordes the to take in grace…, if that not variaunce Thow haste fro troughte.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. iii. 38. Telle me the trouthe…. Syre saide she I shalle telle you the trouthe…. That is trouthe … as ye say.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, cxxxix. 521. I shall neuer haue ioye … tyll I maye knowe the trought.
1545. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 250. Send forth your excuse … with a letter of the trough of your sicknes.
1593. Q. Eliz., Boethius, V. pr. i. 103. Aristotle … hath defynd it [chance] in a neere reason to breefenes & trouth.
β. 1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 30. Thys ys of trothe.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 173. When perfite iudgement is wantyng, the trothe can not be knowne.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXIV. xxx. 529. They reported other newes besides, as well lies as troths.
1663. Cowley, Country Mouse, 56. Plainly, the troth to tell, the Sun was set.
γ. 13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 494. For al is trawþe þat he con dresse, And he may do no þynk bot ryȝt. Ibid., B. 1490. Hit [the sacred candlestick] watz … wont … in temple of þe trauþe trwly to stonde.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), xxix. Butte the trauthe fulle litulle thay wote.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 221. The philosophres knowenge the trawthe of God profite moche to the cognicion of trawthe.
1504. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), p. lxiv. All that ys afore rehersed … we wyll … yf nede be, depely depose afore the kynge and hys counsell, that yt is matter of trawth.
b. In troth (arch.), † of (a) troth (obs.): truly, verily, indeed: = in truth, of (a) truth (TRUTH 13).
α. a. 1380. Pistill of Susan, 187. Heo was in trouþe, as we trowe, tristi and trewe.
c. 1475. Partenay, 1568. Many merueles of trought cam ther ryght.
1508. Fisher, Penit. Ps., xxxviii. Wks. (1876), 60. This of a trouth is a grete mysery wherof … Dauyd maketh his complaynte.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 50. But of trough I thought, better to haue then wishe.
1789. Burns, To Dr. Blacklock, ii. I lippen’d to the chiel in trouth.
β. a. 1566. R. Edwardes, Damon & Pithias (1571), Bj. Tell me of troth, Is not that great Wisdom as the world goth?
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iii. 118. In troth I thinke she would.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 205. Divers sums of money (which in troath were the oblations and offerings).
1727. Gay, Begg. Op., I. viii. A mighty likely speech in troth.
1756. Foote, Eng. fr. Paris, I. Wks. 1799, I. 98. In gude troth, not a mighty booty.
γ. 1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), II. 365. The faders of whom were not knowen in trawthe.
c. Also ellipt. or as int. = TRUTH 13 c. arch.
α. 1719. Ramsay, To Arbuckle, 48. And trouth I think they’re in the right on’t. Ibid. (1728), A Character, iv. And trowth the picture I have drawn Is very like.
1786. Burns, Brigs of Ayr, 129. Fine Architecture, trowth, I needs must say’t o’t.
β. 1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., III. ii. 60. Troth sir, shee hath eaten vp all her beefe, and she is her selfe in the tub.
a. 1627. Middleton, etc., Widow, II. i. Troth, and I would have my will then, if I were as you.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. xxiii. 34. Troth, sir, said he … I never knew her peer.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., I. i. ‘Troth,’ answered Master Heyford [etc.].
III. 5. attrib. and Comb., as troth-breaker, -breaking, -keeping, -kiss, -ring; troth-contracted, -like, -telling adjs.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., To His Mistresse, ii. Promise, and keep your vowes, Or vow ye never; Loves doctrine disallowes *Troth-breakers ever.
13[?]. Cursor M., 26234 (Cott.). Fals wijtnes and *trouth breking.
1464. Paston Lett., II. 159. Master Constantyn sewyd hym for feyth and trowth brekyng.
1633. Ford, Broken H., II. iii. Intercourse of *troth-contracted loves.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., viii. (1628), 253. A mouth of *troth-keeping or loyaltie.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Lay Brown Rosary, II. 64. I was betrothed that day; I wore a *troth-kiss on my lips, I could not give away.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, II. xl. K viij. Such other thynges are to be feyned, whyche appere *trouthlyke.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, IX. 100. I had sooner cut My hand off (though ’t were … promised a duke’s *troth-ring).
1673. Wycherley, Gentl. Dancing-Master, IV. i. The *troth-telling Trojan gentlewoman of old was ne’er believed till the town was taken.
