belief

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Mental acceptance of a claim as true.

   It's my belief that the thief is somebody known to us.

2. 2
   noun

   Faith or trust in the reality of something; often based upon one's own reasoning, trust in a claim, desire of actuality, and/or evidence considered.

   My belief is that there is a bear in the woods. Bill said he saw one.

3. 3
   noun

   Something believed.

   The ancient people have a belief in many deities.

4. 4
   noun

   The quality or state of believing.

   My belief that it will rain tomorrow is strong.

5. 5
   noun

   Religious faith.

   She often said it was her belief that carried her through the hard times.

6. 6
   noun

   One's religious or moral convictions.

   I can't do that. It's against my beliefs.

7. 7
   noun

   a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

8. 8
   noun

   any cognitive content held as true

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *laubō Proto-West Germanic *laubu Old English lēafa Middle English bileve English belief From Middle English bileve, from Old English lēafa, from Proto-West Germanic *laubu from Proto-Germanic *laubō. Compare German Glaube (“faith, belief”). The replacement of final /v/ with /f/ is due to the analogy of noun-verb pairs with /f/ in the noun but /v/ in the verb, creating a pair belief : believe on the model of e.g. grief : grieve or proof : prove.