trust

Etymology

From Middle English trust (“trust, protection”). Long considered a borrowing from Old Norse traust (“confidence, help, protection”), itself from Proto-Germanic *traustą, but the root vocalism is incompatible, and now it's considered a reflex of an unattested Old English *trust, from a rare zero-grade proto-Germanic variant of the same root also attested in Middle High German getrüste (“host”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deru- (“be firm, hard, solid”). Akin to Danish trøst (“comfort, solace”), Saterland Frisian Traast (“comfort, solace”), West Frisian treast (“comfort, solace”), Dutch troost (“comfort, consolation”), German Trost (“comfort, consolation”), Gothic trausti (“alliance, pact”). Doublet of tryst. More at true, tree.

noun

1. Confidence in or reliance on some person or quality.
   He needs to regain her trust if he is ever going to win her back.
   to lose trust in someone
   build up trust
   a relationship built on mutual trust
   O ever-failing trust / In mortal strength! 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes
2. Dependence upon something in the future; hope.
3. Confidence in the future payment for goods or services supplied; credit.
   I was out of cash, but the landlady let me have it on trust.
4. That which is committed or entrusted; something received in confidence; a charge.
5. That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.
6. (rare) Trustworthiness, reliability.
7. The condition or obligation of one to whom anything is confided; responsible charge or office.
   17th century, John Denham, Of Justice Reward them well, if they observe their trust.
8. (law) The confidence vested in a person who has legal ownership of a property to manage for the benefit of another.
   I put the house into my sister's trust.
9. (trust law) An arrangement whereby property or money is given to be held by a third party (a trustee), on the basis that it will be managed for the benefit of, or eventually transferred to, a stated beneficiary; for example, money to be given to a child when he or she reaches adulthood.
10. A group of businessmen or traders organised for mutual benefit to produce and distribute specific commodities or services, and managed by a central body of trustees.
11. (computing) Affirmation of the access rights of a user of a computer system.

verb

1. (transitive) To place confidence in, to rely on, to confide in.
   We cannot trust anyone who deceives us.
   He that trusts without reserve will at last be deceived. October 5, 1751, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler No. 162
2. (intransitive, with in) To have faith in; to rely on for continuing support or aid.
   In God We Trust (official US motto)
   Trust in me, just in me / Shut your eyes and trust in me 1967, Sherman Brothers (lyrics and music), “Trust in Me (The Python's Song)”, in The Jungle Book
3. (transitive) To give credence to; to believe; to credit.
4. (transitive) To hope confidently; to believe (usually with a phrase or infinitive clause as the object)
   I trust you have cleaned your room?
5. (transitive) to show confidence in a person by entrusting them with something.
6. (transitive) To commit, as to one's care; to entrust.
7. (transitive) To give credit to; to sell to upon credit, or in confidence of future payment.
   Merchants and manufacturers trust their customers annually with goods.
8. (intransitive, followed by to) To rely on (something), as though having trust (on it).
   to trust to luck
   Having lost the book, he had to trust to his memory for further details.
9. (archaic, transitive) To risk; to venture confidently.
10. (intransitive) To have trust; to be credulous; to be won to confidence; to confide.
11. (archaic, intransitive) To sell or deliver anything in reliance upon a promise of payment; to give credit.

adj

1. (obsolete) Secure, safe.
2. (obsolete) Faithful, dependable.
3. (law) of or relating to a trust.