Its interesting to notice the following facts regarding the evolution of the way TRUTH is defined in these 3 editions

of Webster dictionary: 1828, 1913, 2006. 1. The most complete andhonest edition is the 2006 one- from my point of view. It gives in my opinion- the easiest way to find all you want to know about the word. The structure is simple: a list with answers to all the possible questions you might want to ask about the word, starting with the archaic definition and other types of definitions as the language evolved up to the modern world. 2. I like the fact it gives examples of related words that include even NEARANTONYMS! And I like the fact that, in the online edition there are links for readers with English as a second language and for kids. Complete and accessible, as I said. 3. The great contribution of technology that allows the reader to listen to the word as being spoken correctly is very important, especially for the learners with English as second language. 4. It is very obvious that, during the years, the trend of defining the word through religion related examples has become less and less powerful. The first edition is almost exclusively based on examples from the Bible where the word TRUTH is used in various occasions. I believe it to be a very good thing that, the latest edition has only one example related to the Bible, the others being very much from the real world so to speak. Not because I am not a believer; on the contrary; but I believe it to be most important that people can select the information they need from various channels and decide for themselves how to understand and use a concept correctly. 5.Whilst the first edition is extremely narrow, really one can recognize the obsession for purity of language and the fear of the author of making any mistake that could lead to misunderstanding of the word around the large masses of people, the 2006 edition is very relaxed and smoothly written, it gives you the feeling that you breathe easier and fresher air while reading it. You get more information and more choices. The message given feels something like :ok, we got a great language, lets be free to evolve and improve it and understand more. Most informative, not at all restrictive. The freedom of the mind and opinion is very obvious, comparing to the first edition. From this point of view, the 1913 edition marks a transition point between the two. Obviously, the people have learned to think and speak freely ever since 1828 and they know their rights better than ever, including the right of being smooth and open in regards to important aspects of their culture.They obviously understood the need and benefit of evolution and change. And this is awesome!

Below I selected the definitions from all three editions that I used for comparison above.

A.The definition of TRUTH from Webster 1828 Dictionary

TRUTH, n. 1. Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies. My mouth shall speak truth. Prov.8. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. John. 17. 2. True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 3. Conformity of words to thoughts, which is called moral truth. Shall truth fail to keep her word? 4. Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth. 5. Correct opinion. 6. Fidelity; constancy. The thoughts of past pleasure and truth. 7. Honesty; virtue. It must appear That malice bears down truth. 8. Exactness; conformity to rule. Plows, to go true, depend much on the truth of the iron work. [Not in use.] 9. Real fact of just principle; real state of things. There are innumerable truths with which we are not acquainted. 10. Sincerity. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4.

11. The truth of God, is his veracity and faithfulness. Ps.71. Or his revealed will. I have walked in thy truth. Ps.26. 12. Jesus Christ is called the truth. John 14. 13. It is sometimes used by way of concession. She said, truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crums-- Matt 15. That is, it is a truth; what you have said, I admit to be true. In truth, in reality; in fact. Of a truth, in reality; certainly. To do truth, is to practice what God commands. John 3.

truthful
TRUTHFUL, a. Full of truth.

truthless
TRUTHLESS, a. Wanting truth; wanting reality. 1. Faithless.

B. The definition of TRUTH in Webster dictionary 1913

Truth (truth) (?) Truth ; pl. Truths (#). [OE. treuthe, trouthe, treowpe, AS. trew(?). See True; cf. Troth, Betroth.] 1. The quality or being true; as: -- (a) Conformity to fact or reality; n.

exact accordance with that which is, or has been; or shall be. (b) 2. That which is true or certain concerning any matter or subject, or generally on all subjects; real state of things; fact; verity; reality. Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor. Zech. viii. 16. I long to know the truth here of at large. Shak. The truth depends on, or is only arrived at by, a legitimate deduction from all the facts which are truly material. Coleridge. 3. A true thing; a verified fact; a true statement or proposition; an established principle, fixed law, or the like; as, the great truths of morals. Even so our boasting . . . is found a truth. 2 Cor. vii. 14. 4. Righteousness; true religion. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John i. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. John xvii. 17. In truth, in reality; in fact. -- Of a truth, in reality; certainly. -To do truth, to practice what God commands. He that doeth truth cometh to the light. John iii. 21.

Truth
Truth (truth) v. t. Truth 1. To assert as true; to declare. [R.] Had they [the ancients] dreamt this, they would have truthed it heaven. Ford.

Truth-lover
Truth-lover (truth-lover) n. 1. One who loves the truth. Truth-lover was our English Duke. Tennyson. (?) Truth"-lov`er

Truth-teller
Truth-teller (truth-teller) n. 1. One who tells the truth. Truth-teller was our England's Alfred named. Tennyson. (?) Truth"-tell`er

Truthful
Truthful (truthful) a. 1. Full of truth; veracious; reliable. -- Truth"ful*ly, adv. -- Truth"ful*ness, n. (?) Truth"ful

Truthless
Truthless (truthless) a. Truth"less 1. Devoid of truth; dishonest; dishonest; spurious; faithless. -- Truth"less*ness, n.

Truthness
Truthness (truthness)

n. Truth"ness 1. Truth. [Obs. *** R.] Marston.

Truthy
Truthy (truthy) a. 1. Truthful] likely; probable. (?) Truth"y

C.The definition of TRUTH in Webster dictionary 2006 edition

truth
noun \trth\ plural truths

Definition of TRUTH
1 a archaic : fidelity, constancy b : sincerity in action, character, and utterance 2 a (1) : the state of being the case : fact (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true <truths of thermodynamics> c : the body of true statements and propositions

3 a : the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality b chiefly British : true 2 c : fidelity to an original or to a standard 4 capitalized Christian Science : god in truth : in accordance with fact : actually See truth defined for English-language learners See truth defined for kids

Examples of TRUTH
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. At some point you have to face the simple truth that we failed. Their explanation was simpler but came closer to the truth. The article explains the truth about global warming. A reporter soon discovered the truth. Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Her story contains a grain of truth but also lots of exaggeration.

Origin of TRUTH
Middle English trewthe, from Old English trowth fidelity; akin to Old English trowe faithful more at true First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to TRUTH
Synonyms facticity, factuality, sooth, trueness, verity Antonyms falseness, falsity, untruth Related Words accuracy, accurateness, actuality, authenticity, correctness; credibility, honesty, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness, truthfulness, veracity; dependability, reliability Near Antonyms erroneousness, fallaciousness, fallacy; falsehood, fiction, half-truth, lie; impreciseness, imprecision, inaccuracy, incorrectness, inexactitude, inexactness; deceit, dishonesty, equivocation, lying, mendaciousness, mendacity, prevarication, untruthfulness more

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

Rhymes with TRUTH

booth, couth, crwth, routh, ruth, scouth, sleuth, sooth, tooth, Truth, youth

Truth
biographical name \trth\

Definition of TRUTH
Sojourner ca 17971883 Am. evangelist & reformer

Rhymes with TRUTH

booth, couth, crwth, routh, ruth, scouth, sleuth, sooth, tooth, truth, youth

truth
noun (Concise Encyclopedia) In philosophy, the property of statements, thoughts, or propositions that are said, in ordinary discourse, to agree with the facts or to state what is the case. At least four major types of truth theory have been proposed: correspondence theories (see realism), coherence theories (see coherentism, idealism), pragmatic theories (see pragmatism), and deflationary theories. The latter group encompasses a wide variety of views, including the redundancy theory, the disquotation theory, and the prosentential theory.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "truth" Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "truth" Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "truth"

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