A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Treuth(e, Trewth(e, Truth, n. Also: treutht, treucht, treuche, treughe, treuith(t, trewtht, trewcht, trewght, trewith(e, trewicht, trewythe, trewytht, trewetht, trewht, trouth(t, troucht, trowth, trowcht, trowytht, troth(e, troughe, trutht, trutth, trueth(t, truith, threuth, threuch(t, threwtht, threwcht, threwitht, threwicht, throuth, throwtht, throucht. [ME and e.m.E. trewðe (c1200), trowþe (a1275), treuþe (Layamon, c1275), treuth, trouth, truth (all Cursor M.), trothe (c1420), OE tréowþ.]There is considerable ambiguity and overlap between senses.
1. The capacity for being faithful or loyal; faithfulness, constancy, loyalty.?1438 Alex. ii 6850.
Ane spak of armes and cheualry … The thrid of truith and of luffing c1450-2 Howlat 430 (A).
In the takinnyng of treuth [B. trewth] and constance kend, The colour of asure a1500 Henr. Garmont 26.
Hir hat suld be of fair having, And hir tepat of trewth a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 224.
Bot in hir face semit greit variance, Quhyles perfyte treuth and quhyles inconstance c1475 Wall. iii 274.
Gentrys and trewtht ay restis him within 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1590.
The faithful ladyis of Grece I micht considder … Behald, ȝe men … Quhat treuth and lufe did in thair breists remane c1575 Annandale Corr. 273.
As to the knawlege of our trowcht, we rak nowcht how mony honest men kene our demenour towardes yow … It is well kennet to all the hell contre that we ware halldyng na trast brekeris to na man a1578 Pitsc. I 111/1.
Gif sic ane thing be wpoun the face of the earth as faitht and trutth na man goodlie may beleiff nor culd suspect ether fraud or gyle
2. Loyalty as pledged to another; (a) pledge or oath of allegiance or loyalty; (a) binding promise or agreement.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxx 349.
For scho hyr treutht brokine had Til hyme that mykil of hyre mad 1513 Doug. iv vii 42.
Thou sal deir by thy treuth thou to me brak 1570 Leslie 190.
Quha rewardit him … for his treuthe and lawtie keipit to his native cuntrey 1558-66 Knox I 183.
To the end that under treuth thei mycht eyther gett the castell betrayed, or [etc.] a1585 Maitl. Q. 251/37.
Lo heir a toy and licht conset … onlye for ane treuth and prove To ladye maistres myne 1657 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 1040.
[They] declarit vpone thair treuth that [sic] sould be freindis to this incorporatioune 1666 S. Ronaldshay 52.
Donald Groat … declared upon his word of treuth he was bot of the age of 9 yeires or thairabout quhen his father dyed(b) 1458–9 Aberd. B. Rec. MS V ii 810 (14 Feb.).
[To] be content & payit of vj marcis for a ȝer tocum … in trouth of concorde to be maide betwext the saide partiis(c) 1553–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 381.
I … sall … be scortly at your grace my selff for declairyng of my part and threwtht touertis your grace at all tymis(d) 1698 Penninghame Par. Rec. I 17.
John Herron … promised on his truth that [etc.]
b. To gif or plicht (one's) treuth, to give a pledge or promise (of fidelity, allegiance, etc.).See Plicht v.1 a, b for further examples.(a) 1556 Carte Northberwic 72.
Trewht(b) 1385 Red Bk. Grandtully I 139*.
Syr Robart to gyf his trowth to the forsayde John and the forsayde John to gyf his trowth to … Syr Robart 1432 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. viii 44.
[Both parties] haf bath bodely geuyn vthir thair trowthis [before witnesses] c1552 Soc. Ant. II 413.
I Nycholaus Ramsay of Dalhousy takis ȝow Cristiane Ros to my spousit wyf and thairto I gyf ȝow my trowth(c) a1500 Sir Eger 1154.
She and he else hath their troth plight
c. In the oath be (on) (the) (faith) (and) treuth (of my body, etc.), by my faith and allegiance.See Faith n. for further examples.(a) 1496–7 Acta Conc. II 65.
To the observing … of al and sindri the thingis abonewritin … baith the saidis partiis ar oblist … be the faithis and treuthis of thare bodyis, the haly ewangeils twechit 1505–6 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 686.
I bind & oblisis me be the faith & treuith in my body to resing my haill heretage … in the handis of my our lordis & superior 1515 Douglas Corr. 318.
Trewythe 1526 Oliphants 56.
Treuitht 1538 Soc. Ant. II 363.
Trewith 1549 Breadalbane Doc. No. 67.
Trewicht 1550 Breadalbane Doc. No. 76.
Trewytht(b) 1453 Douglas Bequest XII 1 No. 108.
Oblisis me & my ayeris … in the faithys & threuchis of our bodyise … til ane honorabill man 1538 Breadalbane Doc. No. 48.
Be the faytht of thair bodeis and threwtht 1547 Montgomery Mem. 143.
Threucht 1550 Breadalbane Doc. No. 75.
Threwitht 1550 Breadalbane Doc. No. 75.
Threwicht(c) 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 105.
To this I oblys me be the trouth of my body and be gret athe sworne 1517 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 43.
Baitht the parteis ar oblest be fatht and troutht in thair bodyis to byd at all poyntmentis maid and spokyn [etc.] 1533 Thanes of Cawdor 159.
Trowytht(d) 1546 Fernyhirst MSS in Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I App. lxxii.
Throwtht 1548–9 Shetland Doc. 61.
Throucht(e) 1518 Thanes of Cawdor 129.
Trothe(f) 1558 Reg. Cupar A. II 301.
Trueth
d. Day of troth, = day of trew(is Trew(is n. f.1515 Treas. Acc. V 36.
To David Cameroun for to pas to the day of troth, and erandis to the lord Dakkir, to his expensis, xlij s.
e. comb. With plicht (p.p.) (cf. b above).1513 Doug. x ii 50.
Haldis thou lesum … from betwix thar breist and armys tway, Thar treutht plyght spowsys forto reif away [L. gremiis abducere pactas]?
3. Faith, trust; credence, belief. Chiefly, to gif treuth to, to have faith in, believe in (another).1375 Barb. iv 223 (C).
He was fule … That gaf treuth [E. throuth, 1571 traist] to that creature a1400 Leg. S. i 211.
Quha to hym ferme treutht gafe, He suld euire luf c1420 Wynt. ii 1243 (W).
Vther trouth [C. wenynge, R. wenyng] haif thai nane, Bot hors and men samyn wer ane c1420 Wynt. vi 2209.
Makbeth aye In fantown fretys had gret fay, And trowth had [C. trowit had, W. trowit ay] in swylk fantassy 1456 Hay I 30/23.
The symple peple … the quhilkis gave trouth and credence to the Romaynes a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1569.
[To] Thomas, quhilk wes herdest in trouth, Crist his sermone directit specialie 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 121.
The said Mr. James [Balfour] haid treatourouslie dissauit our souerane lady and the said erle Bothwill, quha gaif him sic faith and trewth as to mak him capitane thairof
4. Honesty, truthfulness; righteousness, virtue; integrity. Also personified.c1420 Ratis R. App. iv 5.
Exill all wyce, and folow treuthe al-way c1420 Ratis R. 519.
For sympill trewth is mar of mycht Than is al sciens of al slycht c1420 Ratis R. 546.
Trouth 1473 Edinb. B. Rec. I 27.
We the maisteris and craftsmen of the hatmakeris thinkis it needfull and speidfull for the gude and treuth of the craft that [etc.] a1568 Scott xxvi 33.
Thay wald be rewit and hes no rewth … Thay wald be trowit and hes no trewth 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 155.
For the loue I beare & awis to treuthe I intend to speake no thing of thame bot what is treue 1611-57 Mure Sonn. i 12.
Extold by treuth of thy most loyall word a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 296.
Better is povertie with treuth, nor riches with schamepersonified c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 181/12.
Oft falsett rydis with ane rowt Quhen trewth gois on his fute abowt a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 402/38.
Falsate with the lordis dois rovn And Trewthe [OUP Trewth] standis barrit at the dure
5. That which is true, or which actually occurred; (a) true fact.c1475 Wall. v 495.
We knaw for treuth he was left him allayne a1500 Seven S. 2081.
The bird that tald the treuth Scho gart him sla c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 153.
How haif ȝe farne, be ȝour faith, confese us the treuth ?1544–5 Bk. Carlaverock II 28.
I assur ȝour lordship, quha sa evir swa sais, it is nocht the troucht c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2259.
I abhore the treuth to tell Of the princis of Israell 1568 Cal. Sc. P. II 731.
That the said George … suld be haid to the tolbuith … and their be put in the jayne and tormentis, for furthering of the declaration of the trewth 1575 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 41.
We beseik your wisdomes to beir leill witnes off the trewithe a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1141 (Wr.).
I … truely told the naked trueth a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1557 (Wr.).
All that ye said sen yee began, I know to be of truth a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS No. 1264.
Tyme tryes the treuth [1641 truth] 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 369.
Such is the unperceivingness of people, that live under the drop of God's word for a long time, and hear very wakening truths, and yet not hear
b. In the phrases (the) treuth is, treuth it is. = Trew(e adj. 3 b.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece I 11.
Of quhatsumever natioun thay ben discendit, treuth is [etc.] 1559 Knox VI 32.
The treucht is, that many of the nobilitie, … have putt to thare handes to remove idolatrie 1646 Justiciary Cases III 715.
Treuche(b) 1550 Corr. M. Lorraine 438.
Trowth it is my lord my husband set that steiding to his father(c) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 124/22.
Truetht it is, S. Augustine in ane other place vritis one this maner(d) 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 272.
I haif understand her majestes mynd concerning Mestre Randolphe—the troughe is he hes [etc.](e) 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 136.
The treughe is we forbure to speak with monsieur
c. In parenthetic constructions.c1475 Wall. v 738.
Ane Clyffurd come, was emys sone to the lord, And four with him, the trewth for to record 15.. Dunb. App. vi 133.
For certanelie the trewth to tell, I cum amang ȝow for to dwell
6. Conformity with fact; accuracy, correctness.1610 Crim. Trials III 110.
For discouerie and tryeing of the troth of this [sic] discourses, the counsall hes been verie carefull in the examinatioun of … Captane Masones companye
7. In abstract or spiritual senses: That which is true or real, as distinct from illusory or false.a1500 Lanc. 161.
Quhat may this meyne? quhat may this signify? Is it of troutht, or of illusioune? 1540 Lynd. Sat. 64 (Ch.).
The verteous ladie Veritie … for the treuth [B. trewth] sho will impresonit be 1567 G. Ball. 61.
He is the way, trothe, lyfe, and lycht 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 192.
And schortlie the trewght now scheynyng cleir in many thingis quhairin it ves dark off lait 1600 R. Bruce in Crim. Trials II 309.
If it would please his ma[jesty] to suffer us … to speak in the chair of truth as the word and spirit of truth sould direct us
8. A system of religious belief held by its adherents to be true; a faith, creed. Chiefly, of Christianity.a1400 Leg. S. i 607.
Fra thay the treutht had tane, Thai wald the appostulis thine had gane a1400 Leg. S. ii 140.
My knychtis thu drawis fra me Falsly to thi trewtht and thé a1400 Leg. S. ii 638.
Prechore Paule, That all the warld … the suthfaste trewcht can bringe a1400 Leg. S. x 297.
Ethiope al hale he wane To Cristyne treutht a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 90.
Oure treutht to thaim wes vnkid a1400 Leg. S. xv 168.
Trutht c1450 Cr. Deyng (STS) 65.
The threuth is fundyt apone this, that [etc.] 1456 Hay I 8/29.
The hard hertis and untrewe treuth of the pagans 1456 Hay II 42/15.
The vij sacramentis, the x commandementis, the xij articles of the treuth c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 16.
He is glaid of Gayus that he walkis in the trewth 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 111.
In the tyme of blindnes and mysknawlege of the treuth thair wes … ane confrarie and bruderheid of ventaris of wyne [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 25/21.
I can espy na thing thairin abhorring fra the treuth 1567 G. Ball. 8.
Heir him that preiche the word of treuth
9. In the asseverations be, in, of, on treuth, = indeed, to be sure.a1500 Henr. Age & Yowth 70.
Off the cedullis the suth quhen I had sene, On trewth, me thocht thai trevist in thair tone c1475 Wall. iii 294.
Thow excedis to that knycht Fer mayr be treuth than it is ony rycht c1475 Wall. vi 438.
Gud freynd, … in treuth will thow me tell [etc.] 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 289.
To redwire the rebellis to obedience quhilk of threwcht wes werray necessair 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng 181 (G).
Quhydder gyff ony sic sing or cerimonye was vsit afoir the passione off Chryst. Ȝae, off trewetht a1568 Scott ii 2.
The grit debait and turnament Off trewth no toung can tell Wes for a lusty lady gent [etc.] 1570 Leslie 238.
In treuith the Scottismen did excell … in … the foirsaide gammes
10. ? The real thing, the genuine article, as distinct from an imitation.1531 Treas. Acc. VI 20.
For romaney buge to lyne the samyn goune, all truth xiij li. ix s.
