True , adv. In accordance with truth; truly. Shak.

True (tr?), a. (Biol.)Genuine; real; not deviating from the essential characters of a class; as, a lizard is a true reptile; a whale is a true, but not a typical, mammal.

True (?), a. [Compar.Truer (?); superl. Truest.] [OE. trewe, AS. treówe faithful, true, from treów fidelity, faith, troth; akin to OFries. triuwe, adj., treuwa, n., OS. triuwi, adj., trewa, n., D. trouw, adj. & n., G. treu, adj., treue, n., OHG. gitriuwi, adj., triuwa, n., Icel. tryggr, adj., Dan. tro, adj. & n., Sw. trogen, adj., tro, n., Goth. triggws, adj., triggwa, n., trauan to trust, OPruss druwis faith. Cf. Trow, Trust, Truth.]

1. Conformable to fact; in accordance with the actual state of things; correct; not false, erroneous, inaccurate, or the like; as, a true relation or narration; a true history; a declaration is true when it states the facts.

2. Right to precision; conformable to a rule or pattern; exact; accurate; as, a true copy; a true likeness of the original.

Making his eye, foot, and hand keep true time. Sir W. Scott.

3. Steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince, or the like; unwavering; faithful; loyal; not false, fickle, or perfidious; as, a true friend; a wife true to her husband; an officer true to his charge.

Thy so true, So faithful, love unequaled. Milton.

Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie. Herbert.

4. Actual; not counterfeit, adulterated, or pretended; genuine; pure; real; as, true balsam; true love of country; a true Christian.

The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John i. 9.

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. Pope.

☞ True is sometimes used elliptically for It is true.

Out of true, varying from correct mechanical form, alignment, adjustment, etc.; -- said of a wall that is not perpendicular, of a wheel whose circumference is not in the same plane, and the like. [Colloq.] -- A true bill (Law), a bill of indictment which is returned by the grand jury so indorsed, signifying that the charges to be true. -- True time. See under Time.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913