With def.art. or dem.adj.: (a) the truth of a situation; the actual fact(s; the ~ of, the truth about (sb.); ben in the ~, to be in the right; ben stille of the ~, keep silent about the truth, keep the truth to oneself; setten in the ~, put (sb.) onto the truth; (b) the ultimate moral or spiritual truth, divine truth; (c) in selected verb phrases: atlen (finden, understanden, etc.) the ~, to surmise (find, understand, etc.) the truth; connen (haven, knouen) the ~, witen that (the) ~, know the truth; enqueren (leiten, trien) the ~, sechen that (the) ~, seek the truth; heren that (the) ~, hear the truth; rehersen (seien, tellen, etc.) the ~, repen (tellen) that ~, tell the truth; sheuen that ~, reveal the truth; (d) in selected inf. phrases used parenthetically for emphasis or as metrical filler: to demen (mengen, preven) the ~, the ~ forto (to) knouen (seien, tellen), the ~ it is to seien, to tell the truth, indeed, in fact; the ~ to concluden, to conclude truly; (e) in selected clauses used parenthetically for emphasis: i wot wel the ~, if i the ~ shal seien, etc.; also in asseverations; (f) as adv.: the ~, truly; (g) in proverbs & prov. expressions.

(a) A true thing; a true statement; also, a certainty [quot. a1425, 2nd]; pl. truths, true things; also, the truth [quot. a1450(a1338)]; som open ~, some clear evidence; with a ~, truly, clearly; seien a ~, seien (tellen oute) sothes; (b) with pers.pron.: his (here, thi) sothes, truths about him (them, you); (c) in inf. phrase used parenthetically: forto seien a ~, to tell the truth, in fact.

Without article: (a) that which accords with fact or reality, truth; spiritual or moral truth; also, truthfulness, truthtelling; concluden ~ of, to come to a true conclusion about (sth.); singen ~, fig. ring true; (b) divine truth; also person.; (c) in selected verb phrases [some quots. may belong to sothe adv.]: seien (speken, tellen) ~, to tell (speak) the truth; sweren ~, pledge truthfulness, swear to tell the truth; also, invoke God's name when telling the truth [last quot.]; (d) in inf. phrases used parenthetically: ~ forto (to) seien (tellen), to tell the truth; in fact; (e) in introductory clauses, often followed by that clause: ~ is to seien, ~ is seid (iseid), it is said truly; ~ is to wondren, the truth is to be wondered at; ~ is, the truth is; (f) to ~ comen, to come true; ben to ~ icomen, be fulfilled; (g) in selected adverbial phrases: for certain (verrei) ~, in (verrei) ~, truly; really, certainly; indeed; mid ~, truly; truthfully; to (ful) ~, truly, for certain.

(a) Faithfulness, trustworthiness; oth of ~; also, in oaths and asseverations: bi min ~, by my faith, by my word; sweren bi ~, to swear on one's word; (b) earnestness, sincerity; to (the) ~, earnestly.