CLAIM / COUNTERCLAIM / LIMITRECORD 226
DISPUTE
RECORD.
One scholarly question. Every attached source. The present editorial state, without pretending the last word has been written.
resolvedestablished
Did true originally mean only factually correct?
No. The reviewed English history foregrounds faithful, steadfast, loyal, and trustworthy senses before and beside modern factual accuracy.
WORD UNDER REVIEWDISPUTE 226
true
/truː/ · adjective
In accord with fact, reality, or a standard; historically an inherited word whose older center is firmness, faithfulness, and steadfastness.
01DIRECT CLAIM EVIDENCE
2 SOURCES WITH A STANCE
A citation is not a vote. Each record says whether the work supports, challenges, contradicts, or contextualizes the position—and identifies the exact locus used.
SOURCE 01supportshistorical dictionary
True — Definition, Word History, and First Known Use
Directly places faithful in the ancestry and documents current factual senses.
Etymology: Old English trēowe, faithful; definitions- AUTHOR / EDITOR
- Merriam-Webster Editors
- YEAR
- 2026
- PUBLISHER
- Merriam-Webster
SOURCE 02contexthistorical dictionary
True — American Heritage Dictionary
Independently expands the historical fidelity field.
Word History: steadfast, loyal, trustworthy- AUTHOR / EDITOR
- American Heritage Dictionary Editors
- YEAR
- 2022
- PUBLISHER
- HarperCollins
02 / EDITORIAL STATE
THE CURRENT RECORD IS RESOLVED.
- CONFIDENCE
- established
- STATUS
- resolved
- LEGACY SOURCE SUMMARY
- Merriam-Webster gives Old English trēowe “faithful,” and American Heritage explicitly traces the loyalty field.
RESOLUTION NOTEThe dossier retains semantic plurality instead of declaring the current factual sense false.