tell-truth

English

Alternative forms

• tell-troth, telltroth, telltruth

Etymology

tell +‎ truth

Noun

tell-truth (plural tell-truths)

1. (obsolete) An honest and truthful person.
   • 1643, NIcholas Lockyer, A Divine Discovery of Sincerity, published 1649, page 63:

     When we know a tale-teller is neer us, we are very carefull what we ſay or doe. Why? we have alwaies a tell-truth in our boſoms, where ever we go, or whatſoever we do; who will tell all to the Judge of all the world, that we think, ſpeake, or do […]

   • 1673, John Faldo, A Vindication of Quakeriſm no Christianity, page 28:

     But page 58. he thinks he hath for ever undone my reputation as an Expoſitor, even as much as I, and thouſands more, believe his Anſwer hath undone his reputation for a Tell-truth.

   • 2001, Philip Gooden, Death of Kings (Shakespearean Murder; 2):

     "I am no tell-tale."
     "It is a tell-truth that we require. You think that you are betraying your fellows but I say that you are not. You are defending the realm and you are defending them too. It is for their wellbeing and their protection that as much as possible be known. In knowledge lies safety."

Synonyms

• nonliar, truthteller

Antonyms

• See Thesaurus:deceiver

Adjective

tell-truth (comparative more tell-truth, superlative most tell-truth)

1. (obsolete) Exposing the truth; revealing; illuminating.
   • 1747, Sarah Fielding, “Letter XXXII: Cynthia to Camilla at London”, in Familiar Letters Between the Principal Characters in David Simple, volume 2, page 149:

     In short, Ovid's Imagination in his Metamorphoſes never made more unaccountable Changes, than would appear thro' ſuch a Tell-truth Mirrour […]

   • 1835 November, “Pleasure”, in The Universalist and Ladies' Repository, volume 4, Boston, page 238:

     Because the sun has a tell-truth ray, / He's shut from the magic wonders