| n. | 1. | The quality or being true; as: - | |||||||||
| 2. | Conformity to rule; exactness; close correspondence with an example, mood, object of imitation, or the like. | ||||||||||
| 2. | That which is true or certain concerning any matter or subject, or generally on all subjects; real state of things; fact; verity; reality. | ||||||||||
| 3. | Fidelity; constancy; steadfastness; faithfulness. | ||||||||||
| 3. | A true thing; a verified fact; a true statement or proposition; an established principle, fixed law, or the like; | ||||||||||
| 4. | The practice of speaking what is true; freedom from falsehood; veracity. | ||||||||||
| 4. | Righteousness; true religion.
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| v. t. | 1. | To assert as true; to declare. | |||||||||
| Noun | 1. | truth - a fact that has been verified; "at last he knew the truth"; "the truth is the he didn't want to do it" |
| 2. | truth - conformity to reality or actuality; "they debated the truth of the proposition"; "the situation brought home to us the blunt truth of the military threat"; "he was famous for the truth of his portraits"; "he turned to religion in his search for eternal verities" | |
| 3. | truth - a true statement; "he told the truth"; "he thought of answering with the truth but he knew they wouldn't believe it" Synonyms: true statement Antonyms: | |
| 4. | truth - the quality of nearness to the truth or the true value; "he was beginning to doubt the accuracy of his compass"; "the lawyer questioned the truth of my account" Synonyms: accuracy | |
| 5. | Truth - United States abolitionist and feminist who was freed from slavery and became a leading advocate of the abolition of slavery and for the rights of women (1797-1883) Synonyms: Sojourner Truth |
TRUTH. The actual state of things.
2. In contracts, the parties are bound to toll the truth in their
dealings, and a deviation from it will generally avoid the contract; Newl.
on Contr. 352-3; 2 Burr. 1011; 3 Campb. 285; and even concealment, or
suppressio veri, will be considered fraudulent in the contract of insurance.
1 Marsh. on Ins. 464; Peake's N. P. C. 115; 3 Campb. 154, 506.
3. In giving his testimony, a witness is required to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; for the object in the
examination of matters of fact, is to ascertain truth.
4. When a defendant is sued civilly for slander or a libel, he may
justify by giving the truth in evidence; but when a criminal prosecution is
instituted by the commonwealth for a libel, he cannot generally justify by
giving the truth in evidence.
5. The constitutions of several of the United States have made special
provisions in favor of giving the truth in evidence in prosecutions for
libels, under particular circumstances. In the constitutions of
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, it
is declared, that in publications for libels on men in respect to their
public official conduct, the truth may be given in evidence, when the matter
published was proper for public information. The constitution of New York
declares, that in all prosecutions or indictments for libels, the truth may
be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that
the matter charged as libelous, is true, and was published with good motives
and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted. By constitutional
provision in Mississippi and Missouri, and by legislative enactment in New
Jersey, Arkansas, Tennessee, Act of 1805, c. 6: and Vermont, Rev. Stat. tit.
11, c. 25, s. 68; the right to give the truth in evidence has been more
extended; it applies to all prosecutions or indictments for libels, without
any qualifications annexed in restraint of the privilege. Cooke on Def. 61.