Definition of untruth

The word "untruth" is a compound word derived from two ancient Anglo-Saxon words: "un-" meaning "not," and "treowe" meaning "faithful" or "true." When these two prefixes and roots are combined, we get the word "untruth," which literally translates to "not faithful" or "not true." Originally, in Old English, the word for "untruth" was "ungean," which was formed by combining "ung-" (meaning "not") with "gēan" (meaning "to go" or "to become"). This word gave rise to the Middle English "untruthe," which eventually evolved into the modern English word we use today, "untruth." The word "untruth" is contrasted with its opposite, "truth," which is derived from the Old English words "triwth" (meaning "true," "faithful," or "loyal") and "triew" (meaning "tree"). These words eventually became "truth" and "trewe," respectively, in Middle English. Overall, the evolution of these words illustrates the historical development of the English language and highlights the importance of understanding the etymology of words in order to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of their meanings.