Trust
Trust is an ancient word which has not changed much over the centuries. Trust has always been foundational to social cohesion whether personal or political. If you can’t trust the people around you, who can you trust? You pay your taxes and trust that the firefighters or police will arrive if and when you need them. Trust, when broken or betrayed, is often irreparable.
The word trust has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root deru (be firm, solid, steadfast), also the source of words such an endurance, durable, and words related to wood; e.g., Sanskrit dru (tree), Greek drys (oak), Welsh derwen (oak), and Old English treo (tree).
PIE deru is the source of Proto-Germanic traustam from which comes Old Frisian trast, Dutch troost (comfort, consolation), Old High German trost (trust, fidelity), German trost (comfort, consolation), and Old Norse traust (help, confidence, protection, support). Also from PIE deru comes Proto-Germanic treuwaz, the source of Old English treowian (to believe, trust) and treowe (faithful, trusty). Note the intriguing connection between trees and trust, but let that be another story.
The word faith is closely related to the word trust. The word faith has its origins in the PIE root bheidh (to trust, confide, persuade) and Latin fides (trust, faith, confidence).
The word trust meaning reliance on the veracity, integrity or other virtues of someone or something and also meaning religious faith comes to English around 1200. The verb ‘to trust’ is also seen at this time. By the late 14th century, trust also meant confident expectation and ‘that on which one relies’. The uses of trust in the context of business and law are seen from the early 15th century. The word trustful is from the 1570s and trustworthy is from 1791.
Do we have distrust (absence of trust; doubt or suspicion), a 16th century word; or, do we have mistrust (lack of confidence, suspicion), a 14th century word? Even though the words are very similar in use and meaning, generally speaking, we use distrust when we have experience or evidence that someone or something is not trustworthy. On the other hand, we use mistrust when we only have a suspicion that someone or something is not trustworthy.
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” Albert Einstein
“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
The word trust has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root deru (be firm, solid, steadfast), also the source of words such an endurance, durable, and words related to wood; e.g., Sanskrit dru (tree), Greek drys (oak), Welsh derwen (oak), and Old English treo (tree).
PIE deru is the source of Proto-Germanic traustam from which comes Old Frisian trast, Dutch troost (comfort, consolation), Old High German trost (trust, fidelity), German trost (comfort, consolation), and Old Norse traust (help, confidence, protection, support). Also from PIE deru comes Proto-Germanic treuwaz, the source of Old English treowian (to believe, trust) and treowe (faithful, trusty). Note the intriguing connection between trees and trust, but let that be another story.
The word faith is closely related to the word trust. The word faith has its origins in the PIE root bheidh (to trust, confide, persuade) and Latin fides (trust, faith, confidence).
The word trust meaning reliance on the veracity, integrity or other virtues of someone or something and also meaning religious faith comes to English around 1200. The verb ‘to trust’ is also seen at this time. By the late 14th century, trust also meant confident expectation and ‘that on which one relies’. The uses of trust in the context of business and law are seen from the early 15th century. The word trustful is from the 1570s and trustworthy is from 1791.
Do we have distrust (absence of trust; doubt or suspicion), a 16th century word; or, do we have mistrust (lack of confidence, suspicion), a 14th century word? Even though the words are very similar in use and meaning, generally speaking, we use distrust when we have experience or evidence that someone or something is not trustworthy. On the other hand, we use mistrust when we only have a suspicion that someone or something is not trustworthy.
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” Albert Einstein
“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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