Believe
(Be*lieve") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Believed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.] [OE. bileven (with pref.
be- for AS. ge-), fr. AS. gelfan, gelfan; akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gilbian,
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.
Believe
(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.
Believer
(Be*liev"er) n.
1. One who believes; one who is persuaded of the truth or reality of some doctrine, person, or thing.
2. (Theol.) One who gives credit to the truth of the Scriptures, as a revelation from God; a Christian; —
in a more restricted sense, one who receives Christ as his Savior, and accepts the way of salvation
unfolded in the gospel.
Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Book of Com. Prayer.
3. (Eccl. Hist.) One who was admitted to all the rights of divine worship and instructed in all the mysteries
of the Christian religion, in distinction from a catechumen, or one yet under instruction.
Believing
(Be*liev"ing), a. That believes; having belief. — Be*liev"ing*ly, adv.
Belight
(Be*light") v. t. To illuminate. [Obs.] Cowley.
