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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [belief]
BELIE'F, n. 1. A persuasion of the truth, or an assent of mind to the truth of a declaration, proposition or alleged fact, on the ground of evidence, distinct from personal knowledge; as the belief of the gospel; belief of a witness. Belief may also by founded on internal impressions, or arguments and reasons furnished by our own minds; as the belief of our senses; a train of reasoning may result in belief. Belief is opposed to knowledge and science.2. In theology, faith, or a firm persuasion of the truths of religion. No man can attain [to] belief by the bare contemplation of heaven and earth.3. Religion; the body of tenets held by the professors of faith. In the heat of persecution, to which christian belief was subject, upon its first promulgation. 4. In some cases, the word is used for persuasion or opinion, when the evidence is not so clear as to leave no doubt; but the shades of strength in opinion can hardly be defined, or exemplified. Hence the use of qualifying words; as a firm, full or strong belief.5. The thing believed; the object of belief. Superstitious prophecies are the belief of fools. 6. A creed; a form or summary of articles of faith. In this sense, we generally use Creed.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [belief]
1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
BELIE'F, n. 1. A persuasion of the truth, or an assent of mind to the truth of a declaration, proposition or alleged fact, on the ground of evidence, distinct from personal knowledge; as the belief of the gospel; belief of a witness. Belief may also by founded on internal impressions, or arguments and reasons furnished by our own minds; as the belief of our senses; a train of reasoning may result in belief. Belief is opposed to knowledge and science.2. In theology, faith, or a firm persuasion of the truths of religion. No man can attain [to] belief by the bare contemplation of heaven and earth.3. Religion; the body of tenets held by the professors of faith. In the heat of persecution, to which christian belief was subject, upon its first promulgation. 4. In some cases, the word is used for persuasion or opinion, when the evidence is not so clear as to leave no doubt; but the shades of strength in opinion can hardly be defined, or exemplified. Hence the use of qualifying words; as a firm, full or strong belief.5. The thing believed; the object of belief. Superstitious prophecies are the belief of fools. 6. A creed; a form or summary of articles of faith. In this sense, we generally use Creed. | BE-LIEF', n. [Sax. geleaf, leave, license, permission, consent, assent, belief, faith, or trust; geleafan, gelefan, geliefan, gelyfan, to believe; leofan, to leave and to live. From these words, it appears that belief is from the root of leave, permission, assent; Sax. leaf, leave and belief, fides; leofa, permission, license; written also lif and lufa; lyfan, to permit; D. geloof, G. glaube, belief, credit, faith; gelooven, glauben, to believe; Dan. belover, to promise; D. oorlof, verlof, leave, permission; G. urlaub, leave, furlow. The primary sense of believe, is to throw or put to, or to assent to; to leave with or to rest on; to rely. See Leave and Live.]- A persuasion of the truth, or an assent of mind to the truth of a declaration, proposition, or alledged fact, on the ground of evidence, distinct from personal knowledge; as, the belief of the gospel; belief of a witness. Belief may also be founded on internal impressions, or arguments and reasons furnished by our own minds; as, the belief of our senses; a train of reasoning may result in belief. Belief is opposed to knowledge and science.
- In theology, faith, or a firm persuasion of the truths of religion.
No man can attain [to] belief by the bare contemplation of heaven and earth. – Hooker.
- Religion; the body of tenets held by the professors of faith.
In the heat of persecution, to which christian belief was subject, upon its first promulgation. – Hooker.
- In some cases, the word is used for persuasion or opinion, when the evidence is not so clear as to leave no doubt; but the shades of strength in opinion can hardly be defined, or exemplified. Hence the use of qualifying words; as, a firm, full, or strong belief.
- The thing believed; the object of belief.
Superstitious prophecies are the belief of fools. – Bacon.
- A creed; a form or summary of articles of faith. In this sense, we generally use Creed.
| Be*lief"
- Assent to a proposition or affirmation, or the
acceptance of a fact, opinion, or assertion as real or true, without
immediate personal knowledge; reliance upon word or testimony; partial or
full assurance without positive knowledge or absolute certainty;
persuasion; conviction; confidence; as, belief of a witness; the
belief of our senses.
- A persuasion of the truths of
religion; faith.
- The thing believed; the object of
belief.
- A tenet, or the body of tenets, held by the
advocates of any class of views; doctrine; creed.
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1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
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Belief BELIE'F, noun 1. A persuasion of the truth, or an assent of mind to the truth of a declaration, proposition or alleged fact, on the ground of evidence, distinct from personal knowledge; as the belief of the gospel; belief of a witness. belief may also by founded on internal impressions, or arguments and reasons furnished by our own minds; as the belief of our senses; a train of reasoning may result in belief belief is opposed to knowledge and science. 2. In theology, faith, or a firm persuasion of the truths of religion. No man can attain [to] belief by the bare contemplation of heaven and earth. 3. Religion; the body of tenets held by the professors of faith. In the heat of persecution, to which christian belief was subject, upon its first promulgation. 4. In some cases, the word is used for persuasion or opinion, when the evidence is not so clear as to leave no doubt; but the shades of strength in opinion can hardly be defined, or exemplified. Hence the use of qualifying words; as a firm, full or strong belief 5. The thing believed; the object of belief Superstitious prophecies are the belief of fools. 6. A creed; a form or summary of articles of faith. In this sense, we generally use Creed.
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Hard-cover Edition |
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508 |
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Compact Edition |
310 |
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217 |
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262 |
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176 |
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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