English
troth
Troth comes from Old English trēowþ ‘truth, veracity’, from Proto-Germanic *triwwiþō ‘contract’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *drewH-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*drewH-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*triwwiz‘true, faithful’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*triwwiþō‘contract’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150trēowþ‘truth, veracity’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500troth
- Englishearliest quotation 1565same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*drewH-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*triwwiz‘true, faithful’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*triwwiþō‘contract’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150trēowþ‘truth, veracity’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500troth
- Englishearliest quotation 1565same form
Earliest quotation: 1565, James Calfhill, The Preface to the Readers: “[John] Martiall, much like to Virgil's Sinon, (of whom…”
Formed from true + -th
Proto-Indo-European *drewH- ‘firm’
Proto-Germanic *triwwiz ‘faithful’
Old English trēowe ‘faithful’
Middle English treowe
English true
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *drewH-
through Proto-Germanic *triwwiz ‘true, faithful’
true, truly, truce, trig, 2 more
through Old English trēowþ ‘truth, veracity’
Today it means
noun An oath, pledge, plight, or promise.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *drewH- / troth