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

• trēo, trīo, trīow, trȳw, trēu, trēw

Noun

trēow n

1. 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.

   • Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church

     ...ðā ðā hǣðenan āhēowon þæt trēow mid ormǣtre blisse, þæt hit brastliende sāh tō ðām hālgan were, hetelīċe swīðe. Þā worhte hē onġēan ðām hrēosendum trēowe þǣs Hǣlendes rōde tācn, and hit ðǣrrihte ætstōd, wende ðā onġēan, and hrēas underbæc, and fornēan offēoll ðā ðe hit ǣr forcurfon.

     Then the heathens cut down the tree with immense joy, so that, rustling, it fell towards the holy man very violently. Then he made the sign of the Savior's cross to the falling tree, and it immediately stood still, turned around, and fell backwards, and almost fell upon those who had previously cut it.

2. wood
3. (collective) trees, a forest
4. 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...

5. gallows; cross

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	trēow	trēowu
accusative	trēow	trēowu
genitive	trēowes	trēowa
dative	trēowe	trēowum

Synonyms

• (tree): bēam
• (gallows): ġealga, rōd

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

• Middle English: tre, tree, trew, trewe, trow, trowe, treo, treou, troe (Southern, Southwest Midland), trau (Kent), trouȝgh, trouȝh (Shropshire)
  • English: tree
  • Middle Scots: tre, tree, trie
    • Scots: tree
  • Yola: tren (plural)

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

1. 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.

2. grace, favour, help
3. 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.

Declension

Strong ō-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	trēow	trēowa, trēowe
accusative	trēowe	trēowa, trēowe
genitive	trēowe	trēowa
dative	trēowe	trēowum

Related terms

• trēowþ
• untrēow
• untrēowþ

Descendants

• English: truce