Definition: doubt
Source: WordNet (r) 1.7
doubt
n 1: the state of being unsure of something [syn: uncertainty,
incertitude, dubiety, doubtfulness, dubiousness]
[ant: certainty]
2: uncertainty about the truth or factuality of existence of
something; "the dubiousness of his claim"; "there is no
question about the validity of the enterprise" [syn: dubiousness,
doubtfulness, question]
v 1: consider unlikely or have doubts about
2: suspect to be false; "I distrust that man" [syn: suspect,
distrust]
3: lack confidence in; "I doubt these reports"
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Doubt \Doubt\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dou?ted; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubting.] [OE. duten, douten, OF. duter, doter, douter, F. douter, fr. L. dubitare; akin to dubius doubtful. See Dubious.] 1. To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined. Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt, and suspend our judgment. --Hooker. To try your love and make you doubt of mine. --Dryden. 2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive. [Obs.] Syn: To waver; vacillate; fluctuate; hesitate; demur; scruple; question.
Doubt \Doubt\, v. t.
1. To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to;
to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe;
to withhold confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard
the story, but I doubt the truth of it.
To admire superior sense, and doubt their own!
--Pope.
I doubt not that however changed, you keep So much
of what is graceful. --Tennyson.
To doubt not but.
I do not doubt but I have been to blame. --Dryden.
We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our
way. --Shak.
Note: That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing,
etc. (or notwithstanding all that may be said to the
contrary) -- but having a preventive sense, after verbs
of ``doubting'' and ``denying'' that convey a notion of
hindrance. --E. A. Abbott.
2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of. [Obs.]
Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God. --R. of
Gloucester.
I doubt some foul play. --Shak.
That I of doubted danger had no fear. --Spenser.
3. To fill with fear; to affright. [Obs.]
The virtues of the valiant Caratach More doubt me
than all Britain. --Beau. & Fl.
Doubt \Doubt\, n. [OE. dute, doute, F. doute, fr. douter to
doubt. See Doubt, v. i.]
1. A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or
evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state
of opinion concerning the reality of an event, or the
truth of an assertion, etc.; hesitation.
Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to
know. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
Doubt, in order to be operative in requiring an
acquittal, is not the want of perfect certainty
(which can never exist in any question of fact) but
a defect of proof preventing a reasonable assurance
of quilt. --Wharton.
2. Uncertainty of condition.
Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. --Deut.
xxviii. 66.
3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread. [Obs.]
I stand in doubt of you. --Gal. iv. 20.
Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt.
--Spenser.
4. Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point
unsettled; objection.
To every doubt your answer is the same. --Blackmore.
No doubt, undoubtedly; without doubt.
Out of doubt, beyond doubt. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Syn: Uncertainty; hesitation; suspense; indecision;
irresolution; distrust; suspicion; scruple; perplexity;
ambiguity; skepticism.
