troth
Americannoun
-
faithfulness, fidelity, or loyalty.
by my troth.
-
truth or verity.
in troth.
-
one's word or promise, especially in engaging oneself to marry.
noun
-
a pledge or oath of fidelity, esp a betrothal
-
truth (esp in the phrase in troth )
-
loyalty; fidelity
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of troth
1125–75; Middle English trowthe, trouthe, variant of treuthe, Old English trēowth. See truth
Explanation
A troth is a serious promise to be faithful, such as a pledge people make about getting married. If you and your girlfriend announce your troth at a family dinner, then that means you better be serious about your relationship. You can pronounce troth to rhyme with "cloth" or to rhyme with "oath." In fact, oath is a synonym for troth. Both words are related to truth, in that when someone makes a troth or an oath, what is said is taken as the truth. You can see troth in words like betrothal, which means engagement, or betrothed, which refers to a person someone is engaged to.
Vocabulary lists containing troth
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But even if he were a corporeal being, he could never pledge his troth to another.
From New York Times ● Jan. 27, 2017
Donald Trump is about to pledge his troth.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 19, 2017
The Road pledges its troth to the troubadour's lifestyle.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 19, 2013
His audience, at home and in European capitals, quickly recognized this was no lovey-dovey replighting of troth.
From Time ● Jan. 23, 2013
Reginald advised that the troth had to be dropped only a little bit at a time.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
