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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Believe

Be-līeve′, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. BELIEVED; p. pr. & vb. n. BELIEVING.] [Prefix be and A-S. léfan, lȳsan, to allow, permit, gelēfan, gelȳsan, to believe, leáfa, belief, geleáfa, belief, faith, D. gelooven, Ger. glauben, M. H. Ger. glouben, gelouben, O. H. Ger. gilouban, Goth. laubjan, galaubjan, O. S. gilōbiān. See LEAVE.] To credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances than personal knowledge; to regard as true; to place confidence in. Whom I now of force believe almighty. Milton. What ardently I wished, I long believed. Cooper. Lord, I believe: help thou mine unbelief. Mark ix. 24.

Be-lĭeve’, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. 1. To have a firm persuasion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith;—often followed by in or on. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. John xiv. 1. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Rom. x. 10. 2. To think; to suppose. They are, I believe, as high as most steeples. Addison.