Truth is a very important word. It’s used often. What does it mean? How do we use it? Are we using it correctly?
A word is a symbol which has a definition which references something real or imagined. A definition can change over time. But there is an original meaning imbued into the structure of the word that conveys its purpose as a specific symbolic construct. This is where etymology is useful.
Etymology means the study of the true meaning of words; to see what the word was created to represent.
from Greek etymologia “analysis of a word to find its true origin,” properly “study of the true sense (of a word),” with –logia “study of, a speaking of” + etymon “true sense,” neuter of etymos “true, real, actual,” related to eteos “true”.
Words are created with a purpose to express meaning about something. Words are imbued with a meaning. Word symbols are created to reflect and represent aspects of being in reality, or something we imagine in our minds.
Truth as a word has a certain meaning. Let’s dig into what that meaning is.
The etymology of the word truth is that it comes from the word true. Grammatically, the suffix –th is an abstract nominal suffix which means to create abstract nouns based on verbs, adjectives and nouns. Like growth from grow, or depth from deep. Truth is the quality of something being true. The truth of something conveys the quality of that something being true. To speak the truth means to speak of things that are true as opposed to false.
True comes from the Proto-Indo European root drew-o- and deru which means “be firm, solid, steadfast”. As such it also references and symbolizes hard, “rock solid”, something real, a foundation to stand upon, an axiom, something accurate, correct, upright. At the core and base level, true or truth symbolizes the solid, firm and upright steadfastness (persistence) of reality/existence. Truth is a synonym for reality or existence. Something that is true is something that is real and exists (or has existed).
This is why the word tree has the same root of deru. Wood is solid, firm and stands upright and steadfastly. Anglo-Saxons used the same word for tree and truth. The word druid (the “tree folk”), has the same root of dru “true/tree” + wid “to know” (the root for wisdom); who were known to have the vision (vis, weid) to discern and know reality; the wisdom (wis, weid) to seek and see (vision) truth in reality.
We have sayings that reference the symbolism and meaning of truth. Like, truth is of often hard to hear. The French word for hard is dure, root deru, the same root as true. Something hard is solid and firm, it’s enduring and durable.
Do you see the connection and what this symbol/term “truth” is referring to? It is clear if you look into the origin of the words to learn what this symbol was created to represent and reflect about reality. Clear, clarity of vision, wisdom; from accurately seeing reality represented through word symbols, the magic of language.
Existence is from ex- “forth, out” + sistere “to set, place, set down, cause to stand, make or be firm”. Note again the symbolism to truth through firm and to stand upright. Existence (the truth) as a whole has extants (a truth) within it. Extants in existence are symbolically set up, placed, made firm which causes them to stand out, to be steadfast and upright (see image later). Truth and existence (the all), has truth/truths and extants within it which are things symbolized to stand up straight and show themselves contrasting apart from one another, not one flat amalgamated oneness that cannot be discerned (the law of identity, law of excluded middle, law of logic/non-contradiction).
