true-false
Meaning
relating to or consisting of statements or questions where the only possible answers are true or false
Structure
Usage
The exam included a challenging true-false section.
Please indicate your answer on the true-false questionnaire.
We used a simple true-false test to assess basic comprehension.
Etymology
The compound adjective "true-false" is a modern construction from the 20th century, created specifically for the context of testing and assessment. It directly combines the native English word "true," with its deep Germanic roots in concepts of fidelity and reliability, with the borrowed word "false," which entered English via Latin and French with connotations of deceit and error. The compound's logic is purely oppositional, juxtaposing the two fundamental and mutually exclusive states of veracity to describe a binary choice format. Its meaning is entirely derived from the modern, abstract senses of its components, representing a functional and descriptive term for a specific type of question or statement.
Analysis
- true: From Old English trēowe, trīewe (faithful, trustworthy). Germanic origin, related to fidelity and reality. Functions as an adjective meaning "in accordance with fact or reality." - false: From Old English fals (fraudulent, deceitful). Latin origin via Old French, from falsus (deceived, erroneous). Functions as an adjective meaning "not according with truth or fact."