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.
2. To think; to suppose.
I will not believe so meanly of you.
Fielding.
To believe in. (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. "She does not
believe in Jupiter." J. H. Newman. (b)
To believe that the character, abilities, and
purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy.
"Let not your heart be
troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John xiv. 1. (c)
To believe that the qualities or effects of an
action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in abstinence from alcoholic
beverages. -- To believe on, to accept implicitly as an object of
religious trust or obedience; to have faith
in.
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.
Hear it pronounced