Belief

be;lief pronunciation: function: noun etymology: middle english beleave, probably alteration of old english gelēafa, from ge-, associative prefix + lēafa; akin to old english ly?fan — more at believedate: 12th century 1 : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing2 : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidencesynonyms belief, faith, credence, credit mean assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance. belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer lt;my belief that i had caught all the errorsgt;. faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof lt;an unshakable faith in godgt;. credence suggests intellectual assent without implying anything about grounds for assent lt;a theory now given credence by scientistsgt;. credit may imply assent on grounds other than direct proof lt;gave full credit to the statement of a reputable witnessgt;.synonyms see in addition opinion