Half truth

Half truth
Half Half (h[aum]f), a. [AS. healf, half, half; as a noun, half, side, part; akin to OS., OFries., & D. half, G. halb, Sw. half, Dan. halv, Icel. h[=a]lfr, Goth. halbs. Cf. {Halve}, {Behalf}.] 1. Consisting of a moiety, or half; as, a half bushel; a half hour; a half dollar; a half view. [1913 Webster]

Note: The adjective and noun are often united to form a compound. [1913 Webster]

2. Consisting of some indefinite portion resembling a half; approximately a half, whether more or less; partial; imperfect; as, a half dream; half knowledge. [1913 Webster]

Assumed from thence a half consent. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

{Half ape} (Zo["o]l.), a lemur.

{Half back}. (Football) See under 2d {Back}.

{Half bent}, the first notch, for the sear point to enter, in the tumbler of a gunlock; the halfcock notch.

{Half binding}, a style of bookbinding in which only the back and corners are in leather.

{Half boarder}, one who boards in part; specifically, a scholar at a boarding school who takes dinner only.

{Half-breadth plan} (Shipbuilding), a horizontal plan of one half a vessel, divided lengthwise, showing the lines.

{Half cadence} (Mus.), a cadence on the dominant.

{Half cap}, a slight salute with the cap. [Obs.] --Shak.

{At half cock}, the position of the cock of a gun when retained by the first notch.

{Half hitch}, a sailor's knot in a rope; half of a clove hitch.

{Half hose}, short stockings; socks.

{Half measure}, an imperfect or weak line of action.

{Half note} (Mus.), a minim, one half of a semibreve.

{Half pay}, half of the wages or salary; reduced pay; as, an officer on half pay.

{Half price}, half the ordinary price; or a price much reduced.

{Half round}. (a) (Arch.) A molding of semicircular section. (b) (Mech.) Having one side flat and the other rounded; -- said of a file.

{Half shift} (Mus.), a position of the hand, between the open position and the first shift, in playing on the violin and kindred instruments. See {Shift}.

{Half step} (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of pitch or interval, used in music.

{Half tide}, the time or state of the tide equally distant from ebb and flood.

{Half time}, half the ordinary time for work or attendance; as, the half-time system.

{Half tint} (Fine Arts), a middle or intermediate tint, as in drawing or painting. See {Demitint}.

{Half truth}, a statement only partially true, or which gives only a part of the truth. --Mrs. Browning.

{Half year}, the space of six months; one term of a school when there are two terms in a year. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • half-truth — 1650s, from HALF (Cf. half) + TRUTH (Cf. truth) …   Etymology dictionary

  • half-truth — (h[aum]f tr[=oo]th), n.; pl. {half truths} (h[aum]f tr[=oo][th]z) . a partially true statement, especially one intended to deceive or mislead. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • half-truth — half truths also half truth N COUNT If you describe statements as half truths, you mean that they are only partly based on fact and are intended or likely to deceive people. The article had been full of errors and half truths that he felt… …   English dictionary

  • half-truth — half′ truth n. pl. truths 1) cvb a statement that is only partly true, esp. one intended to deceive, evade blame, or the like 2) cvb a statement that fails to divulge the whole truth • Etymology: 1650–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • half-truth — ► NOUN ▪ a statement conveying only part of the truth …   English terms dictionary

  • half-truth — n a statement that is only partly true, especially one that is intended to keep something secret ▪ His replies were full of evasions and half truths …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • half-truth — half ,truth noun count a statement that is only partly true or gives only some of the facts …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • half-truth — [haf′tro͞oth΄] n. a statement or account containing only some of the facts, the rest often being left out so as to deceive …   English World dictionary

  • Half-truth — A half truth comes in several forms, and is a deceptive statement, that includes some element of truth. The statement might be partly true, the statement may be totally true but only part of the whole truth, or it may utilize some deceptive… …   Wikipedia

  • half-truth — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms half truth : singular half truth plural half truths a statement that is only partly true or that gives only some of the facts …   English dictionary

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