Obs. Forms: 3 truw, 4 treu-, trowandise, -is, truandis, 4–5 -ise, 5 trewaundise, trowandyse, -aundyse, -antyse, -entyze, truaundise, trwandyse, -aundise, 5–6 trewendise, -yse, 6 truantisse. [a. OF. truandise (13th c. in Godef.), f. truand TRUANT (q.v.) + -ise, suffix:—L. -itia: see -ISE2.]
1. Fraudulent begging; vagabondage; roguery, knavery.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 330. Mid iseli truwandise heo hut [= hides] euer hire god, & scheaweð forð hire pouerte.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 3954. Which han assailed hym to shende, And with her trowandyse to blynde.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xxiii. (1869), 148. Whan I make hem thus to bere the dish of trewaundise.
1547. Bk. Marchauntes, c vij b. Thus can these fyne marchants by wyls [= wiles] and trewandise fructifie at the expence of other.
2. Idle or loitering ways or habits; idleness.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 253. Þoo … Þat won … es to wast Þair liif in trofel and truandis [Gött. trowandis, Trin. trewandise].
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 6664. Seynt poule … bade thappostles forto wirche And wynnen her lyflode in that wise And hem defended truaundise.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 104. Whanne þou … in tyme of lernyng, ȝeuyst þe to trowaundyse.
