Superstitious prophecies are not only the belief of fools, but the talk sometimes of wise men.
Bacon.
4. A tenet, or the body of tenets, held by the advocates of any class of views; doctrine; creed.
In the heat of persecution to which Christian belief was subject upon its first promulgation.
Hooker.
Ultimate belief, a first principle incapable of proof; an intuitive truth; an intuition. Sir W. Hamilton.
Syn. -- Credence; trust; reliance; assurance; opinion.
Be*lief"ful (&?;), a. Having belief or faith.
Be*liev"a*ble (&?;), a. Capable of being believed; credible. -- Be*liev"a*ble*ness, n. -- Be*liev`a*bil"i*ty (&?;), n.
Be*lieve" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Believed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.] [OE. bileven (with pref. be- for AS. ge-), fr. AS. gel&?;fan, gel&?;fan; akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gil&?;bian, Goth. galaubjan, and Goth. liubs dear. See Lief, a., Leave, n.] To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.
Our conqueror (whom I now
Of force believe almighty).
Milton.
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ?
Acts xxvi. 27.
Often followed by a dependent clause.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts viii. 37.
Syn. -- See Expect.
Be*lieve", v. i. 1. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark ix. 24.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
Rom. x. 10.