treow
Old English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /tre͜oːw/
Etymology 1
From Proto-West Germanic *treu, from Proto-Germanic *trewą. Germanic cognates include Old Frisian trē, Old Saxon trio, Old Norse tré, Gothic 𐍄𐍂𐌹𐌿 (triu).
Alternative forms
Noun
trēow n
- tree
- "Gospel of Saint Luke", chapter 19, verse 4
- Þā arn hē beforan and stāh ūp on ān trēow. Sicomorum þ hē hine ġesāwe. forþām þe hē wolde þanon faran...
- Then he ran in front and climbed (lit. ascended) up on a tree. From sycamores that he saw him. For which he would go from there.
- "Gospel of Saint Luke", chapter 19, verse 4
- wood
- (collective) trees, a forest
- a piece of wood: beam, log, stake, staff, cudgel
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
- ⁊ hæfdon ġeleornad mā cræfta hū hīe þā elpendas beswīcan mehton, mid þǣm þæt hīe nāmon trēowu, ⁊ slōgon on oþerne ende moniġe sċearpe īsene næġlas, ⁊ hīe mid flexe bewundon, ⁊ onbǣrndon hit, ⁊ beþyddan hit þonne on þone elpend hindan...
- And they had learned more tricks through which they could ensnare the elephants; they took stakes and drove into the other end many sharp iron nails, and wrapped them in flax, and set them on fire, and then thrust them into the elephant from behind...
- late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans
- gallows; cross
Declension
Strong a-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | trēow | trēowu |
| accusative | trēow | trēowu |
| genitive | trēowes | trēowa |
| dative | trēowe | trēowum |
Synonyms
Derived terms
- āctrēow (“oak tree”)
- æppeltrēow (“apple tree”)
- bōctrēow (“beech tree”)
- boxtrēow (“box tree”)
- ċedertrēow (“cedar tree”)
- eletrēow (“olive tree”)
- fīctrēow (“fig tree”)
- fūletrēow (“black aspen”)
- laurtrēow (“laurel tree”)
- palmtrēow (“palm tree”)
- persoctrēow (“peach tree”)
- pīntrēow (“pine tree”)
- plūmtrēow (“plum tree”)
- syrftrēow (“service tree”)
- trēowcynn (“kind of tree”)
- trēowġewrid (“thicket of trees”)
- trēowwæstm (“tree fruit”)
- trēowweorþung (“worship of trees”)
- trēowwyrhta (“carpenter”)
- trēowwyrm (“caterpillar”)
- triewen (“wooden”)
- wīrtrēow (“myrtle tree”)
Descendants
Etymology 2
From Proto-West Germanic *treuwu, from Proto-Germanic *trewwō.
Cognate with Middle Dutch trouwe (Dutch trouw), Old Saxon treuwa, Old High German triuwa (German Treue).
Noun
trēow f
- loyalty, faithfulness
- 10th century, The Wanderer:
- Til biþ sē þe his trēowe ġehealdeþ, · ne sċeal nǣfre his torn tō ryċene
beorn of his brēostum ācȳþan, · nemþe hē ǣr þā bōte cunne,
eorl mid elne ġefremman. · Wel bið þām þe him āre sēċeð,
frōfre tō fæder on heofonum, · þǣr ūs eal sēo fæstnung stondeð.- Good is that keeps his belief, should not ever unfold his wrath,
fighter of his breasts, too quickly, unless before this help he would
know how to help out a man with strength. It's good for him who seeks
help from the Father in heavens, where this whole fastening stands for us.
- Good is that keeps his belief, should not ever unfold his wrath,
- grace, favour, help
- an assurance of faith; word, promise, engagement, covenant, league
- late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies
- Ġef ðē þurh trēowa findon þā ðe þē findon, sile mē þā trēowa.
- If it is by faith that they find Thee who do find Thee, give me that faith.
- late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Saint Augustine's Soliloquies
Declension
Strong ō-stem:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | trēow | trēowa, trēowe |
| accusative | trēowe | trēowa, trēowe |
| genitive | trēowe | trēowa |
| dative | trēowe | trēowum |
Related terms
Descendants
- English: truce